We are sharing the below information on behalf of the Columbus Division of Police regarding a crime that occurred in the off-campus area.
On 2/17/2021, at approximately 7:25 a.m., an Ohio State female student was walking off-campus, along E 13th Avenue, when an unknown male approached and asked her for money. When she turned to walk away the suspect grabbed her, groped her, and sprayed her with an unknown substance that the student described as possibly being mace. The student screamed and the suspect let her go before fleeing the area in an unknown direction.
The suspect is described as a white male in his late 30s or early 40s, standing between 5’8” and 5’10” tall, and weighing between 190 and 200 pounds. At the time of the incident, he was wearing a dark blue jacket with a hood, dark pants and one glove on his left hand.
The Columbus Division of Police is investigating this as a gross sexual imposition. Anyone with information related to the crime is encouraged to call CPD at 614-645-4545.
Crimes are never the fault of the survivor. The Ohio State University Police Division encourages everyone to lock doors and windows. When possible, please walk with friends or coworkers and always be aware of your surroundings, especially at night. If you see something, say something: report suspicious behavior by calling police. Additional safety resources are available at: https://dps.osu.edu/resources
As a reminder, sexual assault is any sexual activity that occurs in the absence of consent. Responsibility lies with the perpetrator, not the survivor. No one deserves, asks for, or provokes sexual assault. Sexual assault occurs in all communities and people of all genders can be survivors. Additional resources are available at: https://titleix.osu.edu/
The Ohio State University Police Division carefully considers information contained in safety notices. All decisions are handled on a case-by-case basis with the safety of our campus community in mind. Law enforcement officers and dispatchers are trained to interview witnesses in an effort to obtain as much information as possible, such as build, hair style, hair color, facial hair, skin tone, eye color, tattoos or identifying marks, teeth, clothing, shoes, etc. OSUPD may limit the use of race, or other descriptors, unless accompanied by a detailed description of the suspect. In an effort to share information in a timely manner, details may be limited and are based on information known or reported at the time of issuance.