Police investigate report of sex offense in garage
Published March 16, 2007
MU police are investigating a report of a sex offense in the Virginia Avenue parking garage on Saturday, but the victim has not yet filed a report, MU police Capt. Brian Weimer said.
The incident, believed to have taken place at approximately 1 a.m., was reported by another individual at approximately 3:50 a.m., almost three hours later.
MU police alerted students, staff and faculty to the report in a Clery release issued Tuesday in a mass e-mail. According to the release, police began attempting to contact the victim immediately after the incident was reported.
Weimer said all the parking garages, including the Virginia Avenue structure, are patrolled at night.
Weimer said officials from the Parking and Transportation Services office also frequently go through the garages.
Weimer declined to comment any further on the report.
The release stated the victim did not know the suspect.
The Clery release offered tips to prevent attacks, including walking in well-lit areas, walking in groups, reporting suspicious activity and taking self-defense classes.
Police also stated in the Clery release that the tips were not offered to imply the victim acted inappropriately.
"There's a lot of victim-blaming out in society," Rape Education Office Co-coordinator Sara Cleaveland said.
Cleaveland said even someone who follows all of the tips outlined on the Clery release could be assaulted, but it wouldn't be their fault.
"The only person who can really prevent rape is the rapist," she said.
Weimer said the victim of the reported assault still has not filed a report with police. Cleaveland said the victim might not be coming forward for several reasons.
"She might still feel very vulnerable," she said. "She might feel like people will blame her."
Rape Education Office Co-coordinator Becky Erickson said the victim might not want the attention filing a report would bring.