Police investigating series of sexual batteries near campus

Police are investigating a series of sexual battery offenses that have occurred near the University Park campus within the past month. Each instance concerned inappropriate touching of a victim’s buttocks.

The instances have occurred between Feb. 21 and March 13, often on The Row outside sorority houses. At least four of the offenses are believed to have been committed by the same male suspect, and the Los Angeles Police Department released two sketches on Tuesday from descriptions provided by the victims.

“The University condemns sexual assault in all forms,” said USC Dept. of Public Safety Deputy Chief David Carlisle. “USC Public Safety is working closely with the LAPD in investigating these series of sexual batteries. When the person responsible is captured, they will be held accountable.”

The first reported offense took place on the 3000 block of Hoover Boulevard just after 11 p.m. on Feb. 21. A staff member was approached by a male from behind,  who then lifted her skirt, spanked her on the buttocks and promptly fled.

Just two days later on Exposition Boulevard and Trousdale Parkway, a female victim was approached at around 10 p.m. by a male jogger who groped her buttocks, then ran away.

The offenses then spread to the Row and nearby student housing.

On Feb. 27 at 3:20 p.m. on the sidewalk in front of the Gamma Phi Beta sorority house on 28th Street, a man walked past the female victim, then proceeded to turn around and slap her on the buttocks.

On March 5 at 11:55 a.m., three females were walking on the north side of 30th Street near Hoover Street. A male suspect approached them from behind, whispered to one of the students, and then slapped her buttock. The suspect quickly fled afterward.

The fifth offense happened just after 2 a.m. on March 8. A female student was walking with three others in the alley behind the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity house when they were approached by a man riding a bicycle. The man slapped the one female student on the buttocks and rode away.

Two days later, a female victim was walking with her friend when they were approached by a group of four to five hispanic males on a sidewalk outside the Alpha Phi sorority house, just before 7 p.m. The males were all on bicycles, and one of them reached out and slapped the victim on her buttocks. The bicyclists quickly fled the scene.

On that same day and reported at the same time, a female victim was approached by two Hispanic males riding BMX style bicycles near the Mirage Apartments on  W. 30th Street. In a similar fashion, one of the bicyclists slapped the female victim “harshly” on the buttocks, and then fled.

The following day at approximately 12:20 a.m., a female victim was approached on 30th Street and Shrine Place by a man jogging. The man came up behind her and grabbed her buttocks, then fled on foot.

The most recent offense occurred on March 13 in the 3100 block of Hoover Street at approximately 9:24 p.m., when a man approaching the female victim from the opposite direction slapped her on the buttocks.

Carlisle said that the offenses from a group of males riding bicycles did not appear to be
related to the male suspect pursued by LAPD. He assured that the two departments are working to apprehend those responsible.

“I want to emphasize that we take these assaults very seriously as does the LAPD and we will continue [to work] around the clock to investigate these matters,” Carlisle said.

Some students on campus have expressed fear regarding the attacks, especially considering that no suspect has yet to be apprehended.

“It is definitely unsettling to hear that there is an individual who is continually able to get away with sexual battery in an area that students are supposed to feel safe,” said Lessa Danzek, a junior majoring in political science. “I am satisfied with the way DPS has handled it thus far. I hope that everyone, especially girls, will be extra careful when they are out — I know I will be.”

Anastasia Velicescu, an undeclared sophomore, expressed her discontent that these offenses are happening near campus.

“This is a really disturbing and immature action,” Velicescu said. “It’s not acceptable for this stranger to be sexually harassing girls. This is an educational community which shouldn’t be disrupted by such inappropriate behavior.”