A house party Friday night on the 500 block of West Main Street ended with property damage and an alleged sexual assault.
Madison Police Department officers responded to a disturbance outside of the party at approximately 3 a.m. Saturday morning.
According to Captain Mary Schauf, assistant chief of police, the large house party was a classic example of student parties on campus.
“Our main concerns [are] the fights, disturbances, sexual assault and damage to property … This [party] happened to catch all issues,” Schauf said. “It blew out into a big mess.”
The hosts of the party told the police they had to remove five or six individuals from the party for causing problems, according to a release. Schauf said police officers identified a victim who had been battered by one of the individuals and a couple of arrests were made.
A fourth-degree sexual assault, which is a misdemeanor defined as sexual contact with person without their consent, was also reported to police, Schauf added, but the assault is currently under investigation. The maximum penalty for fourth-degree sexual assaults in Wisconsin is nine months in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Schauf said there was extensive damage to the property. The release said the hosts of the party believe the individuals who they kicked out of the party returned to the house later to damage the property.
As soon as students invite random people to their house parties, problems are invited as well, Schauf said, adding that many people come downtown looking for parties. Although Schauf said she is not sure if this was the case at this party, it is common for people under 18 years old to show up at campus parties.
“The big thing is for hosts [to know that] if [they] are going to have people at [their] home, [they should] have people that [they] know or … trust,” Schauf said. “I don’t know how many of the victims were students but it’s not unusual for students to be victimized.”
According to Schauf, officers have not yet taken action for alcohol violations at the party.
“[Police] are planning on following up with the people that hosted the party,” Schauf said.
Anyone with information about the house party disturbances can call Crime Stoppers at 266-6014.
