DU Issues Safety Alert After Attack Near Campus

DENVER (CBS4) - The University of Denver has issued a safety alert after a woman was attacked near their campus.

The incident happened early Saturday morning at the intersection of East Asbury Avenue and South Josephine Street, which is one block away from campus.

The female student was on her way home when she was attacked. She said a man touched her inappropiately and then followed her and pushed her up against a car.

"He began to follow her and so she continued to walk away from this guy and then he pushed her up against a car and she punched him and then she ran away," DU spokesman Will Jones said.

Many students live in apartments in the neighborhood.

"It's hard to tell if they were targeting the university community or if they were just in an area where they could be opportunistic," Jones said.

Those who live nearby say the incident isn't the first they have heard of.

"It was kind of disturbing, definitely, but we've had a few since I moved here in August so it wasn't too out of the ordinary, I guess," said Stevie Hamilton, a graduate student.

School officials warn students to never walk alone at night and to be aware of the emergency telephones in the campus area. One such phone is located at the intersection where the assault happened.

Police said they are looking for the suspect, who was described as being a black man in his 20s who is about 5-foot-8 with a leather jacket and an unknown accent.

LINK: du.edu/campussafety