Two crimes targeting women have struck the University of Wisconsin campus area this week, with one sexual assault being reported near James Madison Park.
Sexual assault
According to a Madison Police Department report, a 24-year-old woman was groped on the 300 block of Norris Court Monday night. The woman screamed as the assault occurred, causing the suspect — who the report describes as a white male, 20-24 years old with a slender build — to flee to East Johnson Street.
Nearby residents then came to the victim’s aid after hearing her scream, the report said.
The victim told MPD the suspect was laughing and probably said “I did it” while he was groping her. MPD Sgt. Rachael Peterson said police have not yet been able to confirm if either the victim or the suspect are UW students.
Peterson added the incident appears to be isolated and not part of any crime trend in the neighborhood.
Ald. Bridget Maniaci, who represents District 2 where the crime took place, also said the area surrounding where the assault took place does not appear to have any growing crime problems.
“I believe that it really was an isolated incident,” Maniaci said. “There haven’t been any other incidents like this in the neighborhood that I can think of at all.”
Peterson said it is important for students to take proper precautionary measures at night, such as locking doors or windows, to prevent unwanted visitors. She added the circumstances and location of an attack or an assault may determine how a victim responds to a crime.
Robbery
MPD is also investigating a robbery on the 400 block of North Lake Street, where two 18 year-old women had their purses stolen by a man wearing a dark, hooded jacket, another report said.
The report said the suspect grabbed the two women by their shoulders and demanded money. One woman gave the man her purse, while the other handed him money. Police eventually found the purse on State Street later that night.
Neither Peterson nor UW spokesperson John Lucas could confirm that UW students were involved in the incident.
