Madison Bell / Roundup
Campus sheriffs issued a campus safety alert after a student was allegedly sexually assaulted in Lot 7.
On Oct. 28, the student was walking to her car when she noticed she was being followed. A man, ranging from 19 to 20 tried to communicate with her, but when that failed he assaulted her, according to Deputy Eric Gibbs.
The man fled the scene on a BMX type bicycle, according to the campus safety alert.
The student filed a report at the sheriff’s station, which classified the incident as sexual battery, according to Gibbs.
“The victim said she had never seen him before and hasn’t seen him on campus,” said Gibbs. “But that doesn’t mean he isn’t a student [at Pierce College].
Since the sheriff’s station replaced the Community College District Police in 2001 there have been no cases of sexual battery until now, according to Gibbs.
“This incident really concerns me because it is something that could happen to any of us,” said Katie Balian, a communications major at Pierce College. “I really hope the sheriff’s catch him to protect the rest of us.”
“We are taking this seriously and trying to prevent this from occurring again,” said Gibbs.
Officers are now taking a more active role in patrolling the lots by being more visible, according to Gibbs.
“Considering what happened they should have had video cameras in the parking lots as well as all over the school,” said Ellissa May, art major at Pierce College. “It’s an open campus so they should have thought about things like this ahead of time.”
Although the sheriff’s have a general description of the suspect, they are working on any leads they get, according to Gibbs.
“Students should always be cognitive of where you are and who’s around you,” said Gibbs. “Use the buddy system.”