News Release

Assault reported Tuesday near UNC’s Forest Theater;
campus, Chapel Hill communities urged to be cautious

University Police are warning the community to stay alert and take extra safety precautions following a reported assault near the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Forest Theater around 3 p.m. today (Tuesday, Jan 9).

The suspect is described as a white male, in his early- to mid-20s, at least 6 feet tall, with a pale complexion and short, dark hair. He was reportedly unarmed and last seen wearing a white shirt, white pants and tan Timberland boots. He was wearing gold-rimmed sunglasses.

The victim was walking from Forest Theater toward Country Club Road when she was grabbed from behind. The suspect attempted to choke her. The victim screamed and was released without serious injury. The suspect was last seen on foot in the Forest Theater area.

Public safety officials urged the community to follow the following safety tips.

• Don't walk alone at night. Use the buddy system. Walk in well-lit areas of campus.
• Immediately report any and all suspicious activity to law enforcement by calling 9-1-1. Remember that 9-1-1 is not only for emergencies. If you do not have a cell phone, use the call boxes located across campus.
• Use UNC’s Point-to-Point express service, free to students, operating between 7 p.m. and 3 a.m. nightly.
• After 3 a.m. use UNC’s free Point-to-Point demand service by calling 962-7867 (962-P-TO-P) and providing your UNC personal identification number. The service is available at night to UNC students, faculty and staff at locations not served by the P2P Express Route or after normal P2P Express service hours.
• Use Chapel Hill Transit, free to all passengers. Web site: www.chtransit.org
• Use the free Safe Ride Program, serving parts of campus, Chapel Hill, and Carrboro from 11:15 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Web site: www.unc.edu/saferide.

For more information, visit www.dps.unc.edu.

University police ask anyone with information in connection with the case to call the department at 962-8100 or Chapel Hill–Carrboro–UNC Crimestoppers at 942-7515. All conversations are confidential; no one must identify themselves or appear in court.

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Public Safety contact: Randy Young, (919) 698-7143 (cell tonight); (919) 962-1502 (office)
News Services contact: Lisa Katz, (919) 638-0474 (cell tonight); (919) 962-2093 (office)