The MSU Police Department has escalated its after-dark security efforts following the rape of a 19-year-old female student on campus.The incident occurred Aug. 12 at the University Drive bike and pedestrian path near the Hunter Henry Center. According to police, the student was jogging by herself when, at approximately 8:30 p.m., she was approached by man who had been hiding in a wooded area beside the path and was ordered to follow him under a bridge where he proceeded to rape her.
Authorities are still searching for the person suspected of sexual assault, described as a black male in his mid-20s, who during the time of the incident was reportedly wearing a gray tank top, black shorts and a pair of tan gardening gloves.
The incident brought to an abrupt end what MSU police chief Georgia Lindley called a relatively crime-free summer on campus. She said that while the University Drive path hasn’t been a problem area in the past, heavier foot traffic has increased the likelihood of crime and the need for more patrols has subsequently risen.
“The Starkville Police Department patrols University Drive very heavily and we patrol around the Hunter Henry and the pedestrian path closely as well,” Lindley said. “Wherever there is a large group of people you’re going to see police patrol cars.”
The University Drive area has not been immune to other criminal activity this year. On July 19, another incident was reported on campus in which a black male allegedly harassed and touched a girl who was jogging along the same path.
According to the report, she was being pursued by the man and told him repeatedly to leave her alone. He would not comply, but when a car approached the two he ran away.
Lindley said the suspect is not believed to be the same man responsible for the rape.
“Descriptions were not similar and the circumstances were not similar either,” she said.
During the spring semester, several armed robberies occurred on the street in Starkville. Three of the individuals suspected of the robberies were indicted this summer.
While the sexual assault and other crimes took place on the same street, both vice president of student affairs Bill Kibler and dean of students Mike White echoed the sentiment that there is no apparent concentration of crime in the area, but more opportunity than other areas to commit crimes.
“There’s certainly more opportunity for crime to happen in a place that’s a heavily traveled area than an area that wasn’t traveled, but [University Drive being] a hotbed of criminal activity? No,” White said.
White said that the MSU campus is very safe but nonetheless susceptible to influences outside the university.
“We have an open fort, so the same elements that are outside the university can come on to the university property, and this is what has occurred in my opinion,” he said.
Lindley said the investigation of the rape is ongoing and that the police department currently has no leads.
“We’re still pursuing,” she said. “We don’t have any concrete leads at this point but we’ve talked to several people … but nothing definite yet.”
University relations issued a release Aug. 13 urging students to take precautions when traveling alone. Also, MSU students and employees were sent an advisory e-mail with safety tips and police contacts.
Lindley said she encourages students who utilize the path to do so during the day and with a partner. She noted that the Sanderson Center has a secure indoor jogging track.
Students are also encouraged to use the campus police escort service and Bully Patrol, a similar system made up of students, to ensure safety on campus after dark. Students can access the services by calling the MSU Police Department line at 325-2121. White said any suspicious activity should be reported to MSU police via the same phone number. pedestrian path closely as well,” Lindley said. “Wherever there is a large group of people you’re going to see police patrol cars.”
The University Drive area has not been immune to other criminal activity this year.
On July 19, another incident was reported on campus in which a black male allegedly harassed and touched a girl who was jogging along the same path.
According to the report, she was being pursued by the man and told him repeatedly to leave her alone.
He would not comply, but when a car approached the two he ran away.
Lindley said the suspect is not believed to be the same man responsible for the rape.
“Descriptions were not similar and the circumstances were not similar either,” she said.
During the spring semester, several armed robberies occurred on the street in Starkville.
Three of the individuals suspected of the robberies were indicted this summer.
While the sexual assault and other crimes took place on the same street, both vice president of student affairs Bill Kibler and dean of students Mike White echoed the sentiment that there is no apparent concentration of crime in the area, but more opportunity than other areas to commit crimes.
“There’s certainly more opportunity for crime to happen in a place that’s a heavily traveled area than an area that wasn’t traveled, but [University Drive being] a hotbed of criminal activity? No,” White said.
White said that the MSU campus is very safe but nonetheless susceptible to influences outside the university.
“We have an open fort, so the same elements that are outside the university can come on to the university property, and this is what has occurred in my opinion,” he said.
Lindley said the investigation of the rape is ongoing and that the police department currently has no leads.
“We’re still pursuing,” she said. “We don’t have any concrete leads at this point but we’ve talked to several people … but nothing definite yet.”
University relations issued a release Aug. 13 urging students to take precautions when traveling alone.
Also, MSU students and employees were sent an advisory e-mail with safety tips and police contacts.
Lindley said she encourages students who utilize the path to do so during the day and with a partner.
She noted that the Sanderson Center has a secure indoor jogging track.
Students are also encouraged to use the campus police escort service and Bully Patrol, a similar system made up of students, to ensure safety on campus after dark.
Students can access the services by calling the MSU Police Department line at 325-2121.