A female student was the victim of a sexual assault that occurred just off campus early last Thursday morning, according to Campus Safety and the Colorado Springs Police Department.
The student reported being sexually assaulted near the bridge at Cache La Poudre Street and Mesa Avenue, just south of the El Pomar athletic complex, at about 4:20 a.m.
A man approached the victim as she walked along the greenway, asked her for a cigarette lighter, and then pulled a knife before assaulting her. The student was able to fight off her attacker and call Campus Safety officers, who immediately responded.
College officials contacted local police, who responded as well.
The suspect is described as a white male in his early 20s with a pierced lip and a height between 5-foot-6 and 5-foot-7 inches. He was wearing a beanie cap and a dark-colored jacket.
Police say that detectives with the Adult Sex Crimes Unit were contacted and are investigating the assault.
Campus Safety released an all-campus email in compliance with the Jeanne Clery Act.
Editor’s Note: This article was posted well after the fact because of sensitivity considerations taken into account by The Catalyst.
Jesse Paul
Editor-in-Chief