Dear Campus Community,
As you are likely aware, four times in recent weeks an assault against a young woman on our campus has occurred. As you can imagine, each of these women has been devastated by what has happened to her.
Please don't be alarmed by the increased security. On the university's part, recently we have doubled our night police patrols and extended the hours of service for the escort service. We have retained a private security firm that will patrol the residence halls. The Long Beach Police Department is working with University Police in their investigations, and will take on a higher visibility on and near the campus. We will begin a series of town hall meetings for students and employees that will offer security information and measures, and I encourage you to attend these sessions.
Additionally, I would like to ask each of you to help us avoid additional attacks—we need everyone's help.
Please, do not walk alone -- ever. Be a friend, walk with a friend. If you work out on the track, run with your friends. If you are alone in the evening, call for an escort at University Police or by using one of the Code Blue telephones on campus. Program your cell phone, right now, with the number for University Police, 562-985-4101. If you see or hear something that doesn't seem right, and especially if you are aware that someone is in trouble, call that number. Stay focused and observant on everything and everyone around you.
Also, please pay close attention to any crime bulletin you see posted in buildings on campus. These will explain crimes that have occurred and provide suspect descriptions. If you are able to provide any helpful information at all, please take a moment to call our crime tip hotline at 562/986-5131.
I am closing this message with descriptions of each of the assaults that occurred on our campus. Please read them carefully and if you have any information that would be helpful to our police, please contact them immediately. Let's work together for our own safety and to put an end to this kind of criminal activity.
...Crime Information
The first assault, on Saturday, Oct. 21 at 2:30 a.m., occurred when a male suspect grabbed a woman walking on Earl Warren Drive and pulled her toward a pathway adjacent to a nearby flood control channel, where he sexually assaulted her. The suspect is described as a male with tanned to light brown skin, dark eyes, at least 6 feet tall and "pudgy." He was wearing a black beanie/ski mask, black hooded sweatshirt, a black belt with a heavy-metal style buckle, and silver studs.
On Wednesday, Nov. 8 at 10:15 p.m., a woman walking on the physical education road leading to the music complex access road was grabbed from behind and pulled toward the tree line. She screamed and was able to fight off the suspect, who let go of her. The suspect is described as a white male in his late 20s to early 30s, 5'6" to 5'10" tall, of thin build with light colored hair and a "buzz cut." He was wearing a teal-colored shirt and only women's pantyhose on his lower torso.
A third woman was attacked on Sunday, Nov. 12 at 8:20 p.m., as she was walking at the south turnaround off Seventh Street toward the McIntosh Humanities Building. She was grabbed from behind by a suspect who tried to pull her into the adjacent tree area, but she was able to fight him off and escape. The suspect is described as a dark-skinned male, possibly Hispanic, approximately 6 feet tall, of medium build and with dark hair. He was wearing a dark upper garment and dark "Dickies" style pants.
At 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 15, after leaving a convenience store adjacent to the campus and returning to Parking Lot 11, a female student was chased and grabbed by two male suspects. She was able to fight them off and call for help. The first suspect is described as a possibly Hispanic male, late 20s, 6 feet tall with muscular build, and dark, shoulder-length hair pulled into a ponytail. He was wearing a black hooded sweater, black "Dickies" style pants and white tennis shoes with black stripes. The second suspect, also possibly a Hispanic male, is described as in his late 20s, 5'10" tall and of stocky build with a shaved head and a patch of hair about an inch thick extending from his bottom lip to his chin. He had a tattoo on the back of his neck that was in Old English lettering and his left eyebrow was pierced with a bar and two studs. He was wearing a dark blue sweater and black "Dickies" style pants.
Anyone with information related to these cases is urged to contact Detective Sergeant Willey at 562-985-8541, Detective Leyva at 562-985-8938 or Detective Mendoza at 562-985-2302. Anonymous calls can be made to the Crime Tip Hotline at 562-985-5131.
