Information on Sexual Assault

May. 11, 2019

The University of Missouri Police Department received a report around 11 p.m. of a sexual assault that occurred between 8 and 8:30 p.m. Friday, May 10.

According to MU police, the victim was forced into a vehicle near Wilson Avenue and the 500 block of College Avenue. Suspects are described as one white male and three others. One was college age wearing a blue sweatshirt, sunglasses, light colored eyebrows and dark hair.

The van was dark in color with seats turned to face backwards in the back.

If you have any information regarding this sexual offense, please contact MU police at (573) 882-7201, or call CrimeStoppers at (573) 875-TIPS (8477) to remain anonymous.

Mizzou now offers Rave Guardian, which turns any smartphone into a personal safety device. Learn more by visiting mualert.missouri.edu.

The MU Police Department suggests the following tips to minimize your risk of being sexually assaulted:

  • Sexual Assault is never the fault of the victim. Only the perpetrators can completely prevent rape and sexual assault.
  • Always trust your instincts. If you feel uneasy or sense something is wrong, do what you can to get out of that situation.
  • If you engage in sex, be sure you understand your partner’s limits, and communicate your own limits clearly. Don’t engage in sexual activities without affirmative consent from your partner.
  • Have a companion or a safe means of getting home, i.e., a trusted friend, taxi or STRIPES if available. The MU Police Department is available to provide safety escorts on campus 24 hours a day. Call (573) 882-7201. These escorts are not vehicle escorts and are provided by an unarmed Security Officer who will walk with you to your destination.
  • If you are sexually assaulted, you have several options and resources from the RSVP Center, Women’s Center and Office for Civil Rights and Title IX. If you choose a police investigation of this crime, MUPD will investigate, provide support and offer related services.
  • Sex offenses are treated with the greatest seriousness on our campus; criminal and/or severe disciplinary action can be taken. If a criminal case is brought, we will support you as much as possible as you pursue it.
  • Consider taking a R.A.D. Basic Self Defense class through MUPD.
  • Other crime prevention tips can be found on the MUPD website.

Crime Notification 2019 – 001 (In accordance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act of 1998. To learn more about Jeanne Clery, please visit http://clerycenter.org/)