Tufts, Boston Police Issue Alert After Attempted Sexual Assault

Tufts University police are advising students of its School of Museum of Fine Arts of a reported attempted sexual assault in the Mission Hill area on Saturday.

According to Boston police, at about 1:38 p.m. Saturday afternoon, officers responded to a call at Kevin W. Fitzgerald Park on Saint Alphonsus Street. They spoke with a woman who told them a man came up from behind her, threw her to the ground and attempted to sexually assault her before fleeing the scene.

The suspect is described as a Hispanic male in his late 20s, approximately 5 feet 8 inches tall with a slim build, a goatee, black hair in a ponytail and tattoos on both arms. Police said he was wearing black and white sneakers, black shorts and a black T-shirt with white lettering.

According to police, he was later seen riding a Rincon model Giant brand bicycle toward Huntington Avenue.

Police advise the following when walking in the area:

• Be aware of your surroundings at all times and trust your instincts. If you think you are being followed, walk briskly away and call police, being able to give them your location.
• Report any suspicious persons or circumstances from all campuses to the Tufts Police immediately at 617-627-6911 from off campus or a cell phone or 911 for local police. From the Boston Health Sciences campus phone dial x-66911. From the Medford/Somerville campus dial x-76911
• Utilize the SafeRide service on the SMFA at Tufts campus by using the LYFT APP. Boston Health Sciences campus can dial Tufts Police at (617) 636-6610 from off-campus or cell phone or from a campus phone dial X-66610. From the Medford/Somerville campus dial (617) 627-3030, from off campus or from a campus phone dial X73030.
• Program the Tufts Police into your cell phone so you will be prepared in an emergency (617-627-6911).
• Anyone with any information is asked to call Boston detectives directly at (617) 343-4400. Community members wanting to assist this investigation anonymously can do so by calling the CrimeStoppers Tip Line at 1(800)494-TIPS or by texting the word ‘TIP’ to CRIME (27463) or you can contact the Tufts Police as soon as possible at 617-636-6610 from off-campus or a cell phone. From the Boston Health Sciences or Medford/Somerville campus phone dial X-66610.

Police stress that victims of a crime are never to blame, but these are precautions that can be taken.

Image via Boston Police

Editor's Note: This report was compiled using information provided by the Boston and Tufts University police departments.