Posted on Sun, Oct 7, 2012 : 10:49 a.m.
Sexual assault reported near University of Michigan campus
By AnnArbor.com Freelance Journalist
A University of Michigan student told police she was sexually assaulted Sunday by four men who dragged her into an alley before she was able to escape.
The incident took place around 2:30 a.m. while the woman was walking on Hill Street between Church and Tappan. The woman told U-M police that the four men approached her and dragged her into an alley. One of the men allegedly assaulted the student before she was able to break free and flee the scene.
The suspects are described only as having brown hair. AnnArbor.com left a message with campus police spokeswoman Diane Brown.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call (734) 763-1131.
Comments
RJA
Mon, Oct 8, 2012 : 5:11 p.m.
Not much good happens at 2:30 a.m. (hoping this is another one of those false reports) Brown hair could be blond or black by now.
Tyler
Mon, Oct 8, 2012 : 4:51 p.m.
I refuse to be scared walking the streets at night. I'm a big proponent of self-defense (by whatever means you choose i.e guns, knives, martial arts, mace, stun gun. I'm sorry for this girl and I want to encourage those that are concerned that it could happen to them to find a means of defense that is comfortable and to use it.
greener_tea
Mon, Oct 8, 2012 : 3:14 p.m.
This is so sad and concerning. Now this young lady has to live with a terrible memory through no fault of her own. I want to see the guys who acted together to do this. She had no chance against 4 guys. If anything persuades me to get a self-protection device this does.
Mitch
Mon, Oct 8, 2012 : 3:58 p.m.
Do not wait much longer.
SonnyDog09
Mon, Oct 8, 2012 : 2:52 p.m.
As long as Hizzoner is comfortable, this is nothing to be concerned about, Comrade Citizen.
Mitch
Mon, Oct 8, 2012 : 11:28 a.m.
When seconds count police are ALWAYS Minutes away. Step up for your own safety, reliance on the government is over rated.
operabethie
Mon, Oct 8, 2012 : 10:54 a.m.
I'm scared. I don't think I've ever felt this way in town.
StopCrying
Mon, Oct 8, 2012 : 2:16 a.m.
These people seriously need to be caught and police need to be patrolling on foot and vehicle. Period. This is unreal.
Domey
Mon, Oct 8, 2012 : 1:20 a.m.
At 2:30 AM the police are busy trying to get DUI arrests. Those make big money for the Corpo-government. Have to keep focused on the bottom line you know.
Tesla
Mon, Oct 8, 2012 : 12:34 a.m.
Team Denard is more important news obviously. *rolleyes*
Billy Bob Schwartz
Sun, Oct 7, 2012 : 11:22 p.m.
What the heck is the matter with you people? Arguing about if there was an alley here and an alley there? Who cares. The issue is that people are walking around town and getting raped. Alley? Street? Home? What difference does it make? This woman has suffered a terrible experience...one that is only too common around town...and the questions are about how to capture these alleged creeps, how to prevent this from happening, spreading the word about how to get someone to walk with you at night, etc. Any woman who needs to walk at 2:30 in the morning needs company for protection. Along with others, I hope that this woman gets the kind of support she needs in dealing with this disgrace.
Andrea Zastrow
Mon, Oct 8, 2012 : 3:47 p.m.
I'd vote you up twice if they'd let me.
stevek
Sun, Oct 7, 2012 : 9:34 p.m.
I'll give it a week for the whole story
Billy
Sun, Oct 7, 2012 : 7:16 p.m.
There is an alley on BOTH sides of the street there.....since there are those of you that think there isn't an alley there. There is a "alley" on the southside between the Mormon Institute of Religion and a residential building there. There is also an alley between the school of business and the parking structure for it.
Tru2Blu76
Sun, Oct 7, 2012 : 7:28 p.m.
So what you're saying is that we who think there's no alley at the marked location on the provided map are... wrong?! The marker on the map gives no indication of WHICH ALLEY the woman was dragged into - AND - the marker's in the middle of the west-bound lane of Hill Street (where Hill st. junctions with Tappan Ave.) Why not instead just consider this map marking another failure (or addition to the Information Gap) on the part of AnnArbor.com?
Tru2Blu76
Sun, Oct 7, 2012 : 6:55 p.m.
Probably, details are being kept from A2 dot com and therefore from us, the public, for investigative purposes. For one thing, as others note, there's no "alley" in the location indicated on the map. My daughter is a U of M grad, so I'm naturally sympathetic to any U of M coed being assaulted in this way. But again, the description of her assailants only as "having brown hair" is ridiculously vague. Perhaps that's on purpose too but it provokes the idea that she was attacked by Team Sasquatch. I'm just getting the idea that, in some cases, the authorities don't want us to know - and maybe that's for good reason. This lack of accuracy is only disturbing because it implies that the authorities can mislead us at will, at their convenience, for their own purposes.
Mike D.
Sun, Oct 7, 2012 : 5:40 p.m.
This is practically on campus, in full view of East Quad and many multi-unit rentals. This is a block (theoretically) patrolled by both Ann Arbor and University of Michigan police. A student should feel safe walking in this area. Suggesting that a woman should be obliged to call a safe ride service to complete the two-block journey from central campus to Hill St. is ridiculous.
anti-thug
Mon, Oct 8, 2012 : 2:37 a.m.
how can we be safe with so many rapist and other crimals ?
CPS
Sun, Oct 7, 2012 : 6:59 p.m.
You are right, @MikeD: a student *should* feel safe but unfortunately what SHOULD BE isn't always WHAT IS. It is better to be inconvenienced and safe than sorry. I know that SafeWalk existed some 20 years ago. It still exists today to meet the same need: to safely escort students walking at night. I hope the victim is receiving the support and care that she needs, and that the one good thing that might come of this would be to save another from the same fate.
tom swift jr.
Sun, Oct 7, 2012 : 6:55 p.m.
I guess the evidence points to the contrary, eh Mike D.?
Mick52
Sun, Oct 7, 2012 : 5:21 p.m.
If this occurred on Hill St. between Tappan and Church and she was dragged into an alley, why is the UMPD investigating? UM has no alley there. There is an alley between E. University and Church St. on the south side of Hill St. not UM property State law gives UM jurisdiction on streets adjacent to UM property so, in a legal sense UMPD could have jurisdiction, particularly if the victim was taken from the north side of HIll St., next to East Quad or the Business school, but if the assault occurred in the alley, proper jurisdiction might be AAPD's, especially if the victim was originally approached on the south side of Hill St.
Paul Taylor
Mon, Oct 8, 2012 : 5:26 a.m.
A better-written report woud have made such questions moot, methinks.
Peregrine
Sun, Oct 7, 2012 : 7:29 p.m.
I don't think this is true. I think the authority of DPS is more broad. From their website (http://police.umich.edu/?s=about): "The University of Michigan Department of Public Safety (DPS) is a full service law enforcement agency. DPS Police Officers are licensed by the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES) and have the authority and responsibility to investigate, search, arrest and use reasonable force as necessary to protect persons and property and to enforce the laws of the State of Michigan and the Ordinance of the Regents of the University of Michigan."
Mike Caruso
Sun, Oct 7, 2012 : 5:35 p.m.
Between Tappan and Church, what about the alley between the U of M parking structure and the old business school building, all UM property. Don't have to be a jackwagon Mick...
Linda Peck
Sun, Oct 7, 2012 : 5:02 p.m.
I think there is a number people can call when they are intending to walk alone at night where they can get someone to go with them. That is a very bad time and place to be walking alone. That said, I am so sorry she was attacked and I hope she recovers completely from this violent trauma.
eyesofjustice
Sun, Oct 7, 2012 : 4:02 p.m.
This is a sad situation .....the mayor needs to step up and make sure our citizens are protected!
Tyler
Mon, Oct 8, 2012 : 4:46 p.m.
I would ask what the U is doing to make the streets safe for students. Instead of talking about running to the police for help and having groups for assault survivors, what are they doing to help vulnerable populations mitigate the chances of an assault? I'm sure their public safety department has heard of the term target hardening, perhaps they can put this idea to use.
anti-thug
Mon, Oct 8, 2012 : 2:36 a.m.
"best paces list..." I quote!
eyesofjustice
Sun, Oct 7, 2012 : 8:22 p.m.
@blue your right the Mayor is to busy thinking about the next art piece, while he rides his bike around town.
Tru2Blu76
Sun, Oct 7, 2012 : 7:13 p.m.
@eyesofjustice: so tell us, which mayor in this country (or in the entire world) "makes sure our citizens are protected"?? If you can find one such mayor, please do let us know because that'll be the discovery of the century and your name will be written in history books, you can bet. My own bet is that it's time for you to look into that Big Bag of Assumptions you're carrying around and start tossing out the really ridiculous ones. ;-)
Mike D.
Sun, Oct 7, 2012 : 5:42 p.m.
@lezee 1000 times yes!
leezee
Sun, Oct 7, 2012 : 4:18 p.m.
Perhaps if this incident was looked at as something that makes the city less "pedestrian friendly", the mayor might consider doing something.