BREAKING: Sexual assault suspect arrested
By Thomas Albano
An unnamed suspect has been arrested in connection with the incidents of sexual assault that took place in West Village B over the past month.
According to Anthony Campbell, associate vice president for student affairs and dean of students, the suspect is not a Rider student. Campbell made the announcement of the arrest in a statement to the Rider community via email in the late afternoon hours on Oct. 2.
“On behalf of the entire Rider University community, we wish to convey our appreciation and gratitude to all the members of law enforcement, especially the Lawrence Township Police Department,” the statement said. “The safety and well-being of our campus communities are of the utmost importance to us, and a responsibility we take very seriously. This has been a time of collaboration – a true team effort – between our students, staff, faculty and others to address everyone’s questions and concerns surrounding these incidents.”
West Village saw two sexual assaults with very similar circumstances that occurred in September. The first, which took place at 3:15 a.m. on Sept. 11, saw the suspect allegedly enter the common area and touch a sleeping visitor on the shoulder. When the victim awoke, she cried out, and the suspect fled.
The second incident took place at 4:50 a.m. on Sept. 27 when the suspect allegedly touched a sleeping woman on her breast. He fled when this woman screamed as well. It is believed the offender entered the building behind another student as a result of handicapped-accessible doors staying unlocked for approximately 13 seconds.
