2008 Woodie Awards
Crime Update
Skylar James
Issue date: 4/15/08 Section: News
In the past two months there have been two significant assault cases on the SSU campus, which have both left the victims injured.
On March 9 a Special Crime Alert stated that a SSU female student was sexually assaulted in the residential community. The assault took place early in the morning, and there was speculation that the victim knew one or more suspects.
According to SSU Police Chief Nate Johnson, the case has been suspended as a direct result of the victim not pressing charges. Also, there may have been miscommunications over whether the victim knew the suspects.
"The identity of the suspect did not come from the victim," said Johnson.
The second assault took place in the morning of April 3. A female SSU freshman alleged that two men had assaulted her in the Columbard housing parking lot, and had stolen her personal possessions.
This case is still under investigation according to Johnson. As the case is still being processed, there currently is no official comment.
These cases may have begun to cause some uneasiness amongst the SSU community.
"You can tell that it has affected people, especially those who live on campus," said Julia Ortiz, a student who lives in the on-campus housing. "These sort of things seem to make people a little more suspicious and paranoid. No one liked to walk home from classes or the gym before in the dark, but I think [when] these [assault cases] happen it really makes you think twice about how safe we students are."
Johnson did give a general statement in response to the way Police Services runs, and how the community may be affected.
"We take every call seriously, particularly while the case is being investigated," said Johnson. "Until we learn otherwise about who the person is, whether or not the event occurred, whatever the case may be, we take each one seriously. Based on the facts at the time, we put a certain level of response in place."
Any additional information or concerns pertaining to either of these events can be reported to SSU Police Services at 707-664-2143.
On March 9 a Special Crime Alert stated that a SSU female student was sexually assaulted in the residential community. The assault took place early in the morning, and there was speculation that the victim knew one or more suspects.
According to SSU Police Chief Nate Johnson, the case has been suspended as a direct result of the victim not pressing charges. Also, there may have been miscommunications over whether the victim knew the suspects.
"The identity of the suspect did not come from the victim," said Johnson.
The second assault took place in the morning of April 3. A female SSU freshman alleged that two men had assaulted her in the Columbard housing parking lot, and had stolen her personal possessions.
This case is still under investigation according to Johnson. As the case is still being processed, there currently is no official comment.
These cases may have begun to cause some uneasiness amongst the SSU community.
"You can tell that it has affected people, especially those who live on campus," said Julia Ortiz, a student who lives in the on-campus housing. "These sort of things seem to make people a little more suspicious and paranoid. No one liked to walk home from classes or the gym before in the dark, but I think [when] these [assault cases] happen it really makes you think twice about how safe we students are."
Johnson did give a general statement in response to the way Police Services runs, and how the community may be affected.
"We take every call seriously, particularly while the case is being investigated," said Johnson. "Until we learn otherwise about who the person is, whether or not the event occurred, whatever the case may be, we take each one seriously. Based on the facts at the time, we put a certain level of response in place."
Any additional information or concerns pertaining to either of these events can be reported to SSU Police Services at 707-664-2143.
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