Sexual Offense - Fondling – Tucson, AZ

Synopsis of Crime or Offense:  UAPD officers contacted a victim who stated that she entered a vehicle she thought was her rideshare vehicle. The victim identified herself to the driver and asked if he was her scheduled ride. The driver advised he was her scheduled driver, even though he was not. The suspect picked up the victim in the area of Main Gate Square. The suspect drove the victim to her residence where they sat in the vehicle. During this time, the victim said the suspect pursued physical contact with her that escalated to unwanted touching over her clothes. The victim was able to get out of the vehicle and run to a safe location.

Suspect Description:  A Middle Eastern male with a beard who did not speak English.

Status:  UAPD is actively investigating this case. At this time, no suspects have been apprehended.

 

Safety is our top priority. UAPD and the Office of Public Safety remind people to never volunteer your name to rideshare drivers and ensure they have your information and are your scheduled ride before entering the vehicle.

 

Avoid walking alone after dark. Walk in well-lit areas. Use alternate transportation such as the Parking & Transportation Services Night Cat, ASUA SafeRide, taxis or ride-hailing services such as Uber and Lyft. Some campus services may be on limited hours or unavailable during campus breaks. 

 

Call UAPD at 520-621-8273. When available, UAPD may provide a walking or driving escort to your on-campus location or vehicle.

Definition:  Clery Act crime definitions can be found here. The definition of Sexual Abuse - Fondling under Arizona Law can be found here. 

•    Per Arizona law and University policy, consent is required by all parties to engage in sexual activity and may be revoked at any time.

•    Sexual assault is never the fault of the survivor. It is the behavior of the perpetrator that is wrong.

•    If you feel like you have been sexually abused or assaulted, it is recommended that you report it to law enforcement immediately.

•    For more safety tips, download the LiveSafe App and refer to the Wildcat Safety Guide

 

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, or if you are unsure whether you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, or if you find yourself in need of support due to the contents of this warning, there are a number of resources available to you to inform you of your options and to support you in whatever path you choose to take in addressing the incident.

University of Arizona Clery Timely Warnings are released by the University of Arizona Police Department in compliance with federal law when certain crimes are reported on or near campus property. These timely warnings provide information about campus safety and allow campus community members to take precautions. The reported information may not have been investigated or confirmed at the time of the issuance of the warning.  

Physical descriptions of suspects, including race, are included in timely warnings only when they provide several details that might help distinguish the suspect’s appearance from the general population.  

A Timely Warning is not the same as a UAlert. A UAlert is an emergency notification for situations involving an immediate threat to the health or safety of students or employees.