University of Michigan student fights off attacker on Hill Street
A female University of Michigan student fought off a man who grabbed her Thursday night while she was walking off campus in the 1300 block of Hill Street, a university crime alert said.
According to the alert, the victim was walking at about 11:35 p.m. when a man grabbed her from behind. She elbowed him, prompting him to leave the area, the alert said.
The victim was not injured. According to the alert, the man was seen heading toward Cambridge Street. Ann Arbor police are investigating.
The man was described as white and 6-foot-1. He was wearing a black puffy coat and gray hooded sweatshirt pulled over much of his face, the alert said.
Anyone with information can call the Ann Arbor Police Department's confidential tip line at (734) 794-6939 or University of Michigan police at (734) 763-1131.
Comments
psaume23
Sat, Apr 9, 2011 : 9:03 p.m.
The entire area around campus should be monitored by surveillance cameras and patrolled on foot or bicycle, not by cars, by UM police or Ann Arbor police. It was not too long ago that Ann Arbor.com reported another incident in the same vicinity, again occurring during the wee small hours of the morning. Hopefully it won't take a tragedy for the local authorities to implement a smarter approach to policing.
actionjackson
Sun, Apr 10, 2011 : 2:06 p.m.
Totally agree.
Jill
Sat, Apr 9, 2011 : 9:54 a.m.
trespass: Students got an email alert like four hours later, no text. The emergency alert system is really not used effectively in most cases.
EMUgrad04
Fri, Apr 8, 2011 : 9:15 p.m.
And this happened just hours after the Take Back the Night rally in the Diag. What a shame.
RJA
Fri, Apr 8, 2011 : 8:45 p.m.
Pepper spray sounds like a good option to me, an elbow apparently worked for her. If you can kick in the right place might work too. A jump from the back might not give her the best options. (but she can try) Good job to the victim.
SW40
Fri, Apr 8, 2011 : 5:19 p.m.
Lee, Seriously, you have got to be the most stubborn and for lack of a better term "writer" in the history of journalism, if we can stretch the word journalism to include AA.com. What does where this victim attends school have to do with this story. On a regular basis you attempt to degrade our local universities and its hard to understand why. Were you not admitted to UofM do you hate EMU for some reason. Here is an acceptable headline, "Woman fights off attacker on Hill Street". Where this woman attends school has as much to do with the story as perhaps where she works, her religion or maybe her favorite ice cream flavor. How about this headline "fan of cherry garcia ben and jerry's ice cream attacked on hill street" oh wait that is irrelavent. Hmmm I wonder if your bosses read these stories or if they just pay you to publish nonsense. Either way you have no journalistic integrity and should seek other endeavors.
actionjackson
Sun, Apr 10, 2011 : 2:05 p.m.
Wow, sounds like angry reader got out of bed on the wrong side!
Emma B
Sat, Apr 9, 2011 : 5:40 p.m.
I'm with DBlaine. As UM student, I like to know when my peers are being attacked. The information may not be useful for anything more than keeping me on my toes, but so be it.
DBlaine
Fri, Apr 8, 2011 : 10:24 p.m.
Really? I thought it interesting that she's a UM student. If you're such a journalism expert, get a job teaching it.
a2guy1974
Fri, Apr 8, 2011 : 8:31 p.m.
sounds like somebody needs a new hobby or something...
Bertha Venation
Fri, Apr 8, 2011 : 7:44 p.m.
Me Thinks Ye Doth Expecteth too Mucheth. (after all, they're only kids).
ThaKillaBee
Fri, Apr 8, 2011 : 7:37 p.m.
Dayum, son. I mean, I agree with you and all but that was one heck of a rant.
bedrog
Fri, Apr 8, 2011 : 6:01 p.m.
jeez.....that's really unnecessarily harsh and gratuitous.
Roger Roth
Fri, Apr 8, 2011 : 2:40 p.m.
For a long time I thought how excellent it is to live in a country where you can go to bed at night not worrying about a rocket coming through your window. But, really, except in scale, what's the difference between living in a land where there are terrorists shooting rockets at your house and living in a land where there are terrorists who grab you on the street? War on Terror? HAAA!
Bertha Venation
Fri, Apr 8, 2011 : 12:51 p.m.
Good work, honey! Also, don't be afraid to use your knee or bite off an ear (it worked for Mike Tyson). Seriously, on behalf of all of us thank you for fighting back.
Marshall Applewhite
Fri, Apr 8, 2011 : 12:39 p.m.
I'm not sure how many college girls in A2 carry pepper spray regularly, but it would probably be a deterrent if we heard more stories about these guys being sprayed.
RWS
Fri, Apr 8, 2011 : 3:36 p.m.
Well, that would be a good thing however, it is against the "U knows best" policy for students and staff to possess the means of self defense. The Student Code of Conduct states: "Unauthorized use, possession, or storage of any weapon on University premises or at University sponsored activities." is prohibited, and the Standard Practice Guide for Faculty/Staff states: "Employees are also prohibited at any time while on any property owned, leased or otherwise controlled by the University, or elsewhere in the course of their employment, from possessing any chemical or any other dangerous substance or compound with the intent of causing injury to another." Bottom Line? This ensures that the campus area remains a "target rich environment".
Ricebrnr
Fri, Apr 8, 2011 : 2:58 p.m.
So instead of training and carrying tools that may equalize a situation for fear of it being used against you one should train to go hand to hand against larger, stronger and possibly more numerous aggressors. Is that what you're saying? I'm sure we want to give the criminals a sporting chance...
trespass
Fri, Apr 8, 2011 : 2:24 p.m.
Pepper spray and tasers may end up being used against the victim. I think good self defense skills are much better as this victim found out.
trespass
Fri, Apr 8, 2011 : 11:40 a.m.
Is this type of crime reported over the text message system or the email alert system or is that just for shooter? If so, did it work this time or were there problems like there was the other night with the man with a gun in the chemistry building?
A2RN
Fri, Apr 8, 2011 : 12:49 p.m.
I did receive an e-mail alert about this situation. Details were the same as those given in this article.
MjC
Fri, Apr 8, 2011 : 12:16 p.m.
My understanding is that the UM phone and text emergency message system is used only when there is a significant emergency in progress or if there is a clear threat to public safety (active shooter, severe weather, etc.). I'm glad this student was able to throw off her attacker, but I think the UM DPS and Ann Arbor City Police need to have a more visible presence around campus and the city during the evening hours. Students also need to be continually educated about taking precautions when out and about.