Walters State student claims on campus abduction led to off campus assault

Walters State student claims on campus abduction led to off campus assault

By HANA KIM
6 News Reporter

MORRISTOWN (WATE) -- A 40-year-old female student at Walters State Community College told police a man sexually assaulted her off campus after he abducted her on campus Monday afternoon.

6 News spoke with the student on the phone Wednesday. She says she's still shaken up and hopes police will catch the man.

According to a police report, the incident happened around 4:15 p.m. Monday. The victim was in a parking lot near a campus library.

She says she was almost at her car when the man snuck up behind her and put a heavy object to her back. She thought it was a gun.

The student says the man forced her into the back of her car and drove off campus to a nearby location. That's where she says the sexual assault took place.

The student says she was too scared to get a good look at her attacker, who eventually released her at a parking lot at the college square, then fled on foot. 

No incident like this has been reported at Walters State in the college's 40 year history.

"As a result, we've increased our patrol on campus," says Dr. Foster Chason, vice president of student affairs.

While the investigation continues, campus officials say they're also getting the word out to the public.

"We've notified all the students. We put it on the front page of our Web site. We used Facebook, MySpace and Twitter," Chason said.

The suspect's description isn't clear, but the victim believes he was white, heavier set and may have a beard.