Northwestern Students Battered, Evanston Police Patrols Increase

EVANSTON, IL — Northwestern University police Tuesday issued a third alert in six dates to students and staff about incidents where woman have been approached from behind by men around the south end of the Evanston campus. The safety alerts concern four incidents of battery and one of harassment.

In response, University and Evanston police have partnered to increase patrols in the area. One man has been arrested and faces a battery charge in connection with one of the incidents.

"There's been a change in deployment of personnel," Glew said. "They'll be increased patrols in vehicle, on foot, by Northwestern University police, Evanston police, Northwestern community service officers and then we'll be deploying plainclothes units to the area as well."

Northwestern University Police Chief Bruce Lewis becoming the victim of crime is never the fault of the victim and offered various safety services offered by the school, including free escorts and blue light emergency telephones.

University and Evanston police also recommended those wearing headphones while walking not turn up the volume so loud they are unaware of their surroundings.

"Prevention starts with awareness, and we encourage students, faculty and staff to use extra caution when walking, especially at night, and to walk with others when possible," Lewis told students and staff in the Nov. 9 alert.

On Nov. 13, Lewis urged the community to "report all suspicious activity in a timely manner. Proactive, visible patrols have been increased on and around campus recently, in addition to assistance from EPD."

The chief said police did not expect the incidents to become a trend after the first report and issued no alert after the second incident because the man believed to be responsible was arrested but the third incident required a response, according to the Daily Northwestern.

Lewis told Wednesday members of Northwestern's student government that pepper spray is not prohibited, the Daily reported. The body went on to pass a resolution calling on the university to address safety and communication concerns from students.

Timeline of recent events, according to University Police:

• 10:18 p.m., Oct. 28 – A student's backpack was grabbed from behind by a person described as a tall white man with blonde hair and a Russian accent as she crossed the street at Chicago Avenue and Sheridan Road.
• 10:20 p.m., Nov. 4 – A student was grabbed from behind on University Place near Scott Hall. She escaped the attacker, and 21-year-old Yontan Vasquez, Jr. was later arrested and charged with battery in connection with the incident.
• 5:30 p.m., Nov. 8 – Two men, described as about 6 feet tall, approached a woman as she walked on Hinman Avenue near Sheridan Road and grabbed her backpack from behind. She was able to escape.
• 4:54 p.m., Nov. 13 – Two women reported being approached by a pair of men while walking in the 1900 block of Sheridan Road. The men made a rude comment, the women did not respond, and the two men then made a disparaging comment and walked away northbound without making any physical contact with the women. The men were described as speaking with distinctive European accents, one was wearing a gray jacket and one a red jacket.
• 5:10 p.m., Nov. 13 – A woman was walking southbound near the 1700 block of Chicago Avenue when two men made a comment to her before grabbing her arm. She ran south on Chicago while the two men headed north. Police are reviewing video camera footage from both Nov. 13 incidents, according to Lewis.

Earlier:

• NU Students Organize Self-Defense Classes After On-Campus Attacks
• 3 Women Attacked At Northwestern, 2 Near Sororities: Campus Alert