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Old Dominion University Police investigate third case of sexual assault this semester

Posted at 5:44 PM, Oct 12, 2019
and last updated 2019-10-14 17:46:11-04

NORFOLK, Va. - A third case of sexual assault is being investigated by Old Dominion University Police this semester.

The first case was reported August 31 and another person reported a rape September 28.

The first two incidents reportedly happened near the Scotland House dorm on Elkhorn Avenue  and the most recent case was reported at the Rogers Hall freshman dorms  on 49th street.

According to a crime alert sent out to students on Friday, a sexual assault was reported to have happened around 8:45 p.m. at 1065 W. 49th Street where Roger Hall Dorm is located.

A woman reported to ODU Police that she was sexually assaulted by a man who was invited into the residence.

The suspect, who is known to the victim, is described as a college aged male, 5’ 9” tall and weighs 200 pounds. He fled the area on foot, reports say.

The YWCA of South Hampton Roads is a sexual assault crisis center.  They partner with ODU and other college campuses to make sure there are services available for victims on their campuses.

"We send an advocate out to talk to the victims about their options," says YWCA Chief Program Officer Kristen Pine. Pine says they provide victims with " information about the criminal justice process if they are interested in that, and if they are not interested in that, then we talk about counseling services, victim advocacy services, that we can provide."

In this latest report of sexual assault, the woman told police she knew the suspect. The YWCA  says that’s the case in more than 90 percent of sexual assaults.

The police investigation is ongoing and at this time there is limited information on the suspect.

Pines says victims are not in charge of stopping sexual assault. The YWCA says the number one thing they would tell victims is that it’s not their fault.

Some victims chose to move forward with legal action, and other don't. The YWCA encourages victims to reach out to them to see what their option are.

The YWCA crisis number is 757-251-0144.

If you have any information related to this assault that might be helpful to the investigation, contact the Old Dominion University Police by phone at (757)-683-4000 or in person at 4516 Monarch Way.