Rutgers Student Severely Beaten in Attempted Sex Assault on Campus: Prosecutor

Rutgers - A female Rutgers University student was attacked, severely beaten and nearly sexually assaulted last week on the Rutgers New Brunswick campus, but her cries alerted people nearby who came to her defense.

Police are looking for this man who they say did it, said Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew C. Carey.

Michael P. Knight, 37, was charged with aggravated assault, attempted aggravated sexual assault, aggravated sexual contact and kidnapping during the attack, which occurred in the early-morning hours of Wednesday, May 4. He lives in Newark, police said.

Knight followed the woman as she walked on the College Avenue campus on Wednesday, May 4 at 3:30 a.m., Carey said. He attacked her in the area of Van Dyke Hall, near College Avenue and Seminary Place, campus police said.

He struck her in the face, severely beat her, dragged her to the side of a building and was attempting to sexually assault her when a group of individuals intervened, prosecutors said. She had screamed out for help when she was first attacked, which alerted nearby witnesses, police said.

Knight fled on foot when the group intervened, running off towards Seminary Place. But as he ran, he said he had a gun and threatened to shoot one of the men who attempted to chase him.

The woman was taken to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, where she was treated for non-life threatening injuries. She since has been released from hospital care.

The violent attack on a student comes just days before President Barack Obama will speak at the Rutgers commencement ceremonies, this Sunday, May 15.

Suspect considered armed and dangerous

Knight, who may be armed and is considered dangerous, also was charged with terroristic threats for threatening to kill the man who attempted to follow him as he fled.

Bail has been set at $1 million for Knight, who remains at large. A warrant has been issued for his arrest.

While he lives in Newark, he also has South Brunswick connections. He is wanted for a burglary that occurred in June, 2015 in South Brunswick township, police there said.

He is described as having shoulder length dreadlocks that may be tied at the back of his head. He is 6-feet, 2-inches tall and weighs between 220 and 250 pounds. He also has tattoos, including one on the left side of his neck. That tattoo consists of the letter “D,” but the remainder of the tattoo is unclear.

Middlesex County prosecutors are investigating the case, as are Rutgers University Police and the New Brunswick Police Department.

The investigation into the attack is active and is continuing. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Sgt. Carlos Rodriguez of the Rutgers University Police Department at (848) 932-8025, or Detective George Stilwell of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office at (732) 745-8675.

You can also text message tips to 274637 (CRIMES) with the keyword “midtip” followed by a message.

Those who call will be given instructions on how to collect cash rewards by using a numerical code that will be recognized by a local bank, which will pay the rewards that are approved by the Crime Stoppers Board of Directors.

Photos of Michael Knight provided by Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office and South Brunswick police.