An 18-year-old female UW-Madison student was sexually assaulted approximately 8 p.m. Wednesday after being forced into a car on campus and driven to an unknown location in Madison, the UW-Madison Police Department reported Thursday.
The student was allegedly walking on the 1500 block of Observatory Drive, near Schlicter Hall and Steenbock Memorial Library when an unknown black male suspect in his mid-20s forced her into the car.
""I'm not really sure at this time exactly where she was headed,"" Sgt. Michael Newton of the UW-Madison Police Department said.
The vehicle the suspect was driving was dark colored, but there is no further description available.
The suspect was described in the press release as having a ""chunky build, thin mustache [and] a shaved head."" According to the police he was also ""in possession of a dark colored puffy coat with a hood and smelled of cigarette and marijuana smoke.""
According to Sgt. Jason Whitney of the UW-Madison Police Department, there are no potential suspects at this time. However, the case is still under investigation, and Whitney said the department is putting extra resources and detectives on the case.
The press release also stated after the man assaulted the student, he released her in the campus area.
""For precautionary measures she was taken to the hospital and checked out and then released,"" Newton said.
He said she was released ""sometime in the morning hours.""
Since the beginning of the academic year, there have been more sexual assaults near campus. Recently, a female Madison resident was sexually assaulted behind Ian's Pizza, and a female UW-Madison student was assaulted on Langdon Street.
However, Whitney claimed the police department has not viewed the attacks as a trend on campus or ""identified anything as a pattern yet.""
In order to prevent further assaults, the police department is urging students and other members of the community to take precautions to remain safe.
""We want to remind students and other members of the communities to travel with friends, use well lit routes, use the transportation services that are offered by SAFEwalk,"" Whitney said. ""Be aware of your surroundings, make sure that you have a cell phone with you if possible and if you see something suspicious feel free to call the police and let them know.""
