Police release details of sexual assault

Philadelphia Police released a detailed account yesterday of the sexual assault of a female student on the 4000 block of Spruce Street.

Philadelphia Police Special Victims Unit Capt. John Darby said that, after going to sleep shortly after 3:30 a.m. Monday, the victim, 20, was awoken by a male lying on top of her holding a sharp object to her neck.

The man threatened the student and sexually assaulted her, then remained in the room for what may have been up to an hour before leaving.

The victim told police the suspect sounded like a white male in his 40s and appeared to be between 5-feet, 8-inches and 6-feet.

At about 6:00 a.m., the male was alerted by what the victim believed to be an alarm clock going off in another room, and he left the victim's bedroom.

There was no sign of forced entry, and it is not clear whether the doors to the residence were locked. Police say the male may have entered through a rear entrance, and the victim believed he exited through a front door.

Darby would not say whether the victim was hospitalized but confirmed that she did not sustain physical injuries.

The victim lived in a multi-story building with up to 10 to 12 occupants, who did not hear or see the incident.

The student did not notify Penn Police until later Monday afternoon, at which point the investigation was turned over to Philadelphia Police SVU.

A crime team has already conducted an on-scene investigation to recover items with potential for biological or other forensic evidence.

Police have retrieved surveillance video from surrounding areas that will be used in the investigation. They have interviewed nearby residents and are working in conjunction with the Division of Public Safety to help identify and apprehend the perpetrator.

The investigation is still ongoing and police have no suspects at the moment.

Vice President for Public Safety Maureen Rush said the victim and her roommates stayed in alternate housing provided by the University Monday night. DPS is currently checking the apartment to ensure all locks and other safety mechanisms are working properly before the students return.

"We're worried about their psyche," Rush said. "Not just the individual woman, but everyone in that home."

A number of serious incidents have occurred recently on or near campus, including this assault as well as the October shooting near 38th and Chestnut streets. Rush stressed, however, that safety is a "shared responsibility" for all students, faculty and staff.

"Can Public Safety do it all? Absolutely not," she said. "No department can do it all, . [but] the community and Public Safety working together can create the safest community."

Rush added that additional Penn and Philadelphia police patrols have been added to boost security in the area.

"There's not an area of our patrol zone that we leave to happenstance," she said. "It's all covered."

The incident has clearly troubled many students who live in the area, though those interviewed said they do not believe DPS should be blamed.

"I don't feel as safe as I used to, but I don't really know what can be done," said College senior Elyse Monti, who lives on the 4000 block of Pine Street.

"It's very frightening that . this involved a Penn student so close to where we live," she added. "To think that that happened, for me it just really hits close to home."

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