Police Searching for Suspect in Sexual Assault of Student
By: Dalton Balthaser
Philadelphia, PA- Police are investigating a sexual assault and an armed robbery of a female Temple University student on the 1400 block of Carlisle Street on the morning of Tuesday, Sept. 29.
Temple Police said in a campus-wide email that a black male confronted the student. The suspect was described as being in his mid 20s with a goatee and wearing a gray beanie, a green vest and black long-sleeve shirt, and blue jeans when the assault occurred.
Police said he displayed a small silver handgun and was last seen fleeing the crime scene on foot northbound from the 1400 block of North Carlisle.
Police say that the 20-year-old victim was on her way home from the Paley Library at Temple and separated from her friend at Broad and Cecil B. Moore. Police then say that she heard footsteps at around midnight and then a man hit her arm with his gun and took her to a construction site where he sexually assaulted her.
The Philadelphia Police Department and Special Victims Unit in collaboration with Temple Police are continuing to investigate this matter, looking for witnesses and reviewing security footage.
Temple Police in the email reminded the students to walk in well-lit areas and with other people. They also reminded the community about the Walking Escort Program, which is available to help members of the community get to their destination safely.
The departments ask that if anyone has information about the incident they should call the Philadelphia Police Department’s Special Victims Unit at 215-685-3251 or Temple Police at 215-204-1234.
