Report of assault prompts investigation
Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students Kory Vitangeli informed the University of Indianapolis community in a campus-wide email about a report to campus police on Oct. 17 of a sexual offense in a residence hall.
According to the official police incident report from the University of Indianapolis Campus Police Department, the incident happened Oct. 14 between approximately 10:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m.
Officer Javed Khan responded when the female student reported the incident on Oct. 17 at approximately 3 p.m.
Interim Chief of Police Hailey Padgett-Riley said that investigations of reported sex crimes are handed over to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.
Padgett-Riley said that campus police continue to stay involved for the whole case.
“We would actually work hand-in-hand with the IMPD sex crimes detective,” she said. “So if they needed to bring the victim in for a taped statement or more investigation, they would kind of meet up with us on the leads.”
IMPD officer Jeff Doughty responded to the case when IMPD was contacted.
According to Vitangeli’s email and the IMPD official report, the female student stated that she was grabbed from behind by an unidentified male who took her into a dark room and touched her inappropriately before releasing her. She was unable to give a description of the man.
Vitangeli said that everyone should be vigilant to help keep campus safe.
“We always hope that people will look out for one another,” Vitangeli said. “If they [students] are sensing anything suspicious, they should contact the campus police right away. If they’re sensing something [suspicious] we want them to get someone to walk with them or be with them.”
Padgett-Riley said that students should feel comfortable contacting the campus police department. She also encouraged students to speak with resident assistants or resident directors.
“They can call us [UIPD], or you can just take the initiative as a student to call [the campus] police,” Padgett-Riley said.
Padgett-Riley said that students should not hesitate to report suspicious behavior.
“This is a private university. It’s not a state university,” Padgett-Riley said. “So not everybody is allowed to be on our property.”
Besides reporting suspicious activity immediately, Padgett-Riley said that students should remember that time is an important factor when reporting any sex crime.
“We [UIPD] recommend that you call us immediately,” Padgett-Riley said. “We have support people. We can recommend people to you like counseling services. We could get your friend with you if you want someone. You’re not gong to be by yourself. There’s a lot of support.”
The campus police department offers police escorts to students. Padgett-Riley recommends that students program the police department’s number into their phones, so that students have it readily available in case it is necessary.
“We [UIPD] do offer campus escorts even if you just feel uncomfortable by yourself,” Padgett-Riley said. “You can call an officer, they can walk with you. We can drive you anywhere on campus to get to your location, to your car or to your residence hall.”
UIPD has an officer on duty 24 hours every day. The police department can be contacted at (317)788-3333 or with any of the blue emergency phones across campus.
