UGA student reports sexual battery near Athens City Hall
ATHENS, Ga. - A University of Georgia student told police she woke up outside Athens City Hall to find a stranger touching himself near her after a night out in downtown Athens.
What we know:
The victim reported she was drinking with friends at local downtown bars when she lost track of time around 11:30 p.m. between Aug. 20 and Aug. 21.
She told officers she woke up hours later in the dark on cardboard boxes near the white marble pillars of Athens City Hall, located at 301 College Ave.
Upon waking, the student reported seeing an unknown man standing near her masturbating while making obscene comments, according to police report.
She immediately ran from the area and noticed her skirt was inside out and her phone, purse, debit card and lip gloss were missing.
Two homeless men later assisted the victim in walking home, where she informed her roommates and contacted authorities.
The victim reported she had no recollection of sexual intercourse, but was taken to a local medical facility for evaluation by detectives.
Investigators searching the scene at City Hall located flattened cardboard boxes used as bedding, a pile of personal belongings containing unused condoms and court documents belonging to a person.
A witness reported seeing a woman matching the victim's description speaking with several men near City Hall between 11 p.m. and 1 a.m.
An employee of a nearby business later recovered the victim's missing phone on Washington Street and turned it over to police.
Detectives responded to a local hospital on Aug. 21 regarding the report, took her clothing into evidence for processing and have identified and questioned one individual as a person of interest.
What they're saying:
University officials issued a community notification alerting the campus community and reminding students, faculty and staff of personal safety strategies, including traveling in groups, staying aware of surroundings, using well-lit areas and consuming alcohol moderately.
"While there is no information to indicate that there is any threat to the UGA Campus as a result of this incident, we would like to remind everyone of the importance of having a well-planned personal safety strategy to lessen their chances of being victims of crime, regardless of when and where they may travel in the area," the UGA alert said.
The university also highlighted its UGA Ride Smart partnership with Lyft, which provides a 50% discount on qualifying rides 7 days a week from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.
What you can do:
Anyone with information on the incident is urged to contact Detective Elmore at Giselle.Elmore@accgov.com or 762-400-7232.
What we don't know:
Police have not publicly identified the specific person of interest currently being questioned by detectives. It also remains unclear whether the court documents found at the scene belong to the man seen near the victim.
The Source: The information in this story was gathered from an Athens-Clarke County Police Department incident report, which detailed the initial response and scene evidence, as well as an official University of Georgia community notification.