Man to appear at preliminary hearing on charge of forcible rape

CPD spokeswoman Jessie Haden said the buddy system is the best defense against rape.

By Jared Grafman

Published Nov. 9, 2010

A Columbia man will appear at a preliminary hearing on a charge of forcible rape Nov. 23, according to court records. Ahmed O. Salau, 26, was arrested by the Columbia Police Department on Oct. 29 after a warrant was issued for his arrest.

CPD received 25 reports of forcible rape in 2010, according to Uniform Crime reports put out by the Missouri State Highway Patrol. CPD received 32 reports of forcible rape in 2009. The MU Police Department has received one report of forcible rape in 2010.

Rapes are reported each year as part of the Uniform Crime Report, CPD spokeswoman Jessie Haden said in an e-mail. In far more than 90 percent of the reports, men are suspects and women are victims.

“False reporting ratios for rapes are very small, no different than the false reporting ratio for other crimes such as robbery,” Haden said. “However, rapes are very underreported, so sometimes people think the false reporting ratio is higher, which it's not. I don't have an exact number, but it's very small compared to rapes that occur."

MUPD Capt. Brian Weimer said his department has not received any reports of sexual assaults or rape in the past couple of months. MUPD treats sexual assault reports the same as any other crime reported.

“We treat sexual assault reports with higher priority than basic reports, but they follow the same process,” Weimer said. “Like when we receive other calls of crimes committed, we investigate the crime, we get the victims assistance that they may need.”

The UCR statistics, which are available at the CPD website, list how many cases are cleared for each type of crime found in the report.

“You will be able to see in the UCR reports how often cases are cleared, although that doesn't necessarily reflect arrests specifically,” Haden said. “These cases are very difficult to prosecute.”

Haden said there are some simple tips women should remember for safety purposes.

“Be alert and aware at all times,” she said. “Use the buddy system whether walking, biking, jogging and running errands.”

The buddy system should be used at parties and other social events, she said.

“At a social event, don't let a man get you alone,” Haden said. “Friends should take care of friends and never let a female friend be talked into leaving with a man.”

Don't take a drugged or intoxicated friend home and just leave her there alone, Haden said.

“Most rapes are committed by someone other than a complete stranger, so it could be someone you've known from work or school, or someone you just met at a party,” Haden said. “It can also be a boyfriend, ex-boyfriend or spouse.”