A female student reported to SMU PD on August 30 that a family friend had tried to sexually assault her in her Morrison Hall room. According to a SMU PD campus alert, “the subject came to her residence hall unannounced. She escorted him inside her room where he attempted to sexually assault her.” The female resisted and “ultimately freed herself.” The male then left the hall and has had no further contact with the student. Police are describing the male as Asian, between 50 and 60 years old, with no other information available. Police were unreachable for comment at the time of publication. The case remains listed as open in police crime logs available on the SMU PD website (smu.edu/pd). Police are asking individuals with information on this crime to contact the SMU Police Department at 214-SMU-3388 or go to http://www.smu.edu/2tip.

SMU PD issues crime alerts in accordance with the Clery Act. The alerts are issued to “provide notification to the campus community about certain reportable criminal incidents the institution believes may pose a continuing threat to the community,” according to the SMU PD website. While alerts are issued on a case-by-case basis, police issue alerts for crimes such as criminal homicide, forcible sex offenses, non-forcible sex offenses, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, motor vehicle theft and arson.