MUPD investigating assault in Hitt Street garage

Aggravated assaults on Missouri campuses have risen since 2005.

By Rachel Allred

Published Dec. 8, 2009

The MU Police Department is investigating an assault that happened at the Hitt Street garage early Sunday morning.

The assault is one of about 80 that have occurred in Columbia since November.

MUPD Capt. Brian Weimer said officers were called to respond to an assault involving a male who was confronted by people he did not know, while walking from the library to his car.

"The individuals yelled at him," Weimer said. "He didn't acknowledge them and he continued walking to his car. Someone threw an empty plastic bottle, hitting him in the right leg."

Weimer said the victim did not report any injuries and refused medical treatment. The suspects' vehicle was a medium sized dark blue SUV. The police have a possible license plate number, but have not released it due to the ongoing investigation, Weimer said.

Law enforcement considers the incident a simple assault. Weimer said officers analyze the situation and refer to guidelines in order to label an assault.

"They have to look at the facts and look at the laws to see what the severity matches up with," Weimer said.

According to the Campus Security Data Analysis Cutting Tool Web site, aggravated assaults have decreased at MU since 2006. The site reported 10 aggravated assaults at MU in 2006, five in 2007 and six in 2008.

The average number of aggravated assaults on Missouri campuses has risen since 2005, the Web site stated. In 2005, 60 aggravated assaults on Missouri campuses were reported, 70 in 2006 and 85 in 2007.

Columbia Police Department Sgt. Ken Hammond said Columbia has a much higher clearance rate of assaults than the national average. The clearance rate is based on Uniform Crime Report statistics.

According to the Crimereports.com, 78 assaults happened in Columbia between Nov. 1 and Dec. 3, six of which involved a deadly weapon.