Rape reported in residence hall

Saturday, Sept. 26, a second-degree rape was reported in Tyler Residence Hall according to the ECU police daily crime logs.

According to the incident report filed with the ECU Police Department, the incident happened inside the co-ed residence hall during the early hours of the morning.

The female student reported an unknown male forcibly sexually assaulted her in a friend's dorm room. Both drugs and alcohol were present according to the report.

Dawn Tevepaugh, assistant chief of police, issued a statement via e-mail releasing an update regarding the investigation. She said, to protect the identity of the victim and to ensure that no complications relating to the investigation occur, the victim's identity will remain confidential and no detailed information would be released at this time.

According to an article published in The Daily Reflector on Sept. 28, Tevepaugh said a safety alert was not issued because authorities did not think the suspect posed a continuing threat to the ECU campus.

In the e-mail, Tevepaugh said it was important that officials were aware that the ECU community was not in any danger.

Additional safety reminders were also included in the statement aimed toward students, regardless of whether their residence was on or off campus, relating to ensuring their personal safety.

Officials urge students to always take steps to be safe by walking in groups, arranging and using safe means of transportation and enjoying alcoholic beverages responsibly.

If students see suspicious behavior or know of a crime that occurred on campus, students can report the incident anonymously on the ECU Police Department Web site or by telephone.

A crime in progress should be called in immediately by dialing 911 or dialing ECU dispatch at 252-328-6787.

This writer can be contacted at news@theeastcarolinian.com.