Women assaulted near campus in two separate incidents, police seek clues

Police are looking for information about two sexual assaults that happened less than a week apart. The first assault happened just east of campus on May 27, when a pants-less man jumped out of a hiding place, attacked a woman on a scooter, and drove away after she fought him and after a witness approached the scene. The second attack occurred June 1, when a jogger wearing an iPod was tackled from behind by a suspect who ran away when a pedestrian approached. The June 1 assault occurred when a woman was jogging in Lot #26, between Falkirk Apartments and and the UCR Sports Complex, around 11:30 p.m. She was tackled from behind, pushed to the ground and assaulted by a suspect who has been described as a white male with hairy arms. When another pedestrian approached, the suspect fled. Another individual was assaulted near campus on May 27, when she was attacked while riding her scooter and talking on her cell phone near Big Springs and Valencia Hill. She screamed and fought off the suspect, according to the UCPD information release. Her assailant, who has been described as a heavy, 6'0" 40-something white male wearing a green hoodie sweater shirt and no pants, ran away when a witness approached the scene. He drove away in a dark gray or silver Acura 4-door with white "Moreno Valley" paper plates. Anyone with information about the May 27 assault is asked to contact Riverside Police Department detective Linda Arnold at 951-353-7100. Anyone with information about the June 1 assault is asked to contact UCPD detective Michael Andert at 951-827-4603. UCPD has not said whether the attacks are related. In a press release, UCPD said it is working with other law enforcement agencies to try to find any possible related cases. As the investigation progresses, UCPD has increased its number of on duty personnel and is working with Riverside Police Department. UCPD advises that students avoid dark areas, walk in groups, use the Campus Safety Escort Service (operating out of the Rivera Library), and notify UCPD of suspicious activity.

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