Crime Alert

Lansing man arrested on charges of sexual assault on and off campus

EAST LANSING, Mich. – A 28-year-old Lansing man has been arrested by Michigan State University and East Lansing police on charges of criminal sexual contact for two separate assaults – one that occurred on MSU’s campus March 26 and one that occurred off campus March 27.

An MSU police officer apprehended the suspect shortly after 1 a.m. March 27 after receiving a report of an assault involving a 19-year-old student. The assault occurred at North Harrison Road and Kensington Street. The suspect was stopped while walking along Michigan Avenue near the scene of the assault.

The suspect was turned over to East Lansing police, where he remains in custody.

MSU police determined that the suspect also matched the description of the suspect involved in the assault that occurred earlier on MSU’s campus near Beaumont Tower at 11:45 p.m. March 26.

In that incident, an 18-year-old student told MSU police she was sexually assaulted by a man as she walked across the open area between West Circle Drive and the MSU Union toward Beaumont Tower. The woman told police that as she and the man passed each other, he grabbed her inappropriately and continued walking toward Grand River Avenue.

The woman did not sustain any injuries and did not seek medical attention, according to police.

Safety Tips

Here are some safety tips from the MSU Police:

  1. Call 911 if you are in danger.
  2. Walk in well-lit areas if possible.
  3. Be aware of your surroundings and others in the area.
  4. Realize that listening to headphones or iPods, or talking on your cell while walking decreases your awareness of your surroundings.
  5. Walk with others when possible.

Services Available

CATA Bus Customer Services

(517) 432-2282, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m.-7 p.m., and weekends 9 a.m.- 5 p.m.

CATA Night Owl

(517) 432-8888, Monday through Friday, 2 a.m.-7a.m.

Use any campus green light phone to call the CATA Night Owl. The bus will arrive within 20 minutes of calling.

State Walk, an on-campus night-time walking service, pairs up volunteers with those leaving the Main Library to various on-campus locations. Hours are Monday through Thursday, 9 p.m. – 1 a.m. Persons can sign up at the reference desk located on the first floor Main Library. For more information, contact Barb Schooley, schoole7@msu, or Emily Suarez-Junquera, suarezj3@msu, or go to www.facebook.com and type in statewalk or www.apobetabeta.org/statewalk. Beta Beta is the sponsor of State Walk.

For information on IM self defense classes on campus, call (517) 432-2661.