Sexual battery suspect stopped by Public Safety

Above, three Orange Police Department cars and one Public Safety vehicle were at the scene on Walnut Avenue, where the suspect in the sexual battery was identified Feb. 15. Below, the sexual battery was reported to have occurred between the Fish Interfaith Center and the Hutton Sports Center Feb. 13. Photo by Bonnie Cash

Chief of Public Safety Randy Burba said that a person identified as the subject involved in a Feb. 13 sexual battery case was stopped but not arrested by Public Safety on Walnut Avenue in front of Wilson Field Feb. 15.

A student reported that the sexual battery occurred between the Fish Interfaith Center and the Hutton Sports Center at about 9:40 p.m. Feb. 13, according to a Timely Notification Bulletin email sent out by Public Safety Feb. 14.
Burba said that Public Safety and the police responded to a call about the suspect at 4:57 p.m. Feb. 15.

Photo by Bonnie Cash

The person who identified the subject was the victim mentioned in the email, Burba said.

According to the email, the victim was approached by a 6-foot-2-inch male suspect with a “dark complexion” who weighed approximately 180 pounds.

The suspect wore black glasses, a red baseball cap, a light-colored long-sleeved shirt and an orange or red backpack, the email said.

With Orange police officers present, Public Safety told the subject not to return to campus, or he would be arrested for trespassing.

The victim declined to have the subject arrested, Burba said.

Three Orange police cars and one Public Safety vehicle were at the scene.

After approaching the victim and engaging in conversation on Feb. 13, the email said, the suspect took hold of the victim in a “hugging motion” and then placed his face against the victim’s breasts as he picked up and spun the victim around. After putting the victim down, the suspect walked in the opposite direction, according to the email.