DENVER — A bold attack inside an educational building on the Auraria Campus Saturday afternoon has prompted a search for the man who attempted to rape a woman.
Auraria Campus police are investigating an attempted rape of a woman inside the West Classroom building at 1050 10th Street Mall at about 2: 05 p.m.
A campus alert stated the suspect grabbed the victim, pushed her to the floor and tried to rape her. But she fought back and escaped.
What has students and faculty here most concerned is the time of the attack–as well as where–inside a well-lit building where anyone could have interrupted this crime in progress.
“They had incidents at light rail, just right over here. A lot of times they are late at night, so I was shocked it was two in the afternoon,” says Assistant Professor Lorretta Chavez at Metropolitan State University of Denver.
It’s probably the last place you’d expect an attempted rape—literally, inside the halls of education, on the second floor of the West Classroom, which houses computers labs, criminal justice and elementary education classes.
“I’ve been here on the weekends there’s enough foot traffic, I wouldn’t think something like that could happen,” says MSU Denver Senior Brandi Farley.
Students say the timing and location are especially frightening, but one says it’s not all that surprising.
“There are a bunch of entrances, no cameras, and no security,” says student BGOLD.
Plus, he says, sometimes transients make their way inside.
“On a day like yesterday, it was a blizzard. This is a warm place to be,” he says.
Students and staff say the weekends do mean a quieter campus, but they could never imagine anyone taking such a big risk of such a brazen attack.
“I know there had to be people around. That’s why it’s shocking to me,” says Chavez.
“It puts me on guard, makes me more alert. But I can’t do anything about it because I have to be on campus and I have to do those things. But definitely I’m going to be looking around at who’s around me more often,” says Farley.
Denver Police have a vague description of the suspect. He is a thin, black man in his forties, with a beard, wearing all black and possibly a beanie.
If you can help Auraria Campus police catch this man, call 303-556-5000.
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