Police are looking for up to four male individuals suspected of beating and robbing a University of Wisconsin student on campus early Sunday morning.
According to a University of Wisconsin Police Department statement, the student was beaten and robbed in a parking lot at 408 North Lake Street shortly after bar time Sunday morning. The statement said the suspects, who are still at large, were described as Asian male individuals between the ages of 18 and 25 years old.
The student was treated at a local hospital for his injuries and has been released, according to the statement.
Ald. Scott Resnick, District 8, said violence in the parking ramp where the incident took place, located near the intersection of Lake Street and University Avenue, has been an area of concern for some time.
Resnick said city committees have considered several solutions to address violence in the area, including changes to street lighting.
“The city has discussed and is in the process of implementing pedestrian lighting in that area, but the problem is that it happens in the parking garage,” Resnick said.
According to Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, the parking ramp is only attended by Transportation Services employees for Kohl Center events and is typically run by meters at all other times.
Verveer said despite the lack of employees at the ramp, UW police heavily patrol the area during late-night hours.
“The ramp, because it is so popular with bar-goers on weekend nights, is pretty thoroughly patrolled by police,” Verveer said. “Unfortunately, of course, they weren’t there when the vicious attack occurred against the student.”
The statement said police believe there may be witnesses to the incident because of the time it occurred.
Police are asking anyone with information about the incident to contact UWPD at 608-262-7752 or the Madison Area Crime Stoppers at 608-266-6014.