Wisconsin man charged in 3 separate incidents involving female students at DePaul
CHICAGO (CBS) – A man is facing charges in three separate incidents involving female students on the Lincoln Park campus of DePaul University.
Police arrested Frank Redd, 26, of Madison, Wisconsin around 5:36 p.m. on Thursday, in the 900 block of West Belden Avenue.
DePaul University said at 4 p.m. Thursday, its public safety department was notified that a student was attacked in a first-floor restroom at the Schmitt Academic Center, 2320 N. Kenmore Ave.
"We students call it the SAC," said DePaul senior Alex Washer. "That's the one place I would never to be attacked, in all honesty."
The student scared off the attacker and was able to use the duress button in the restroom, DePaul said.
"I love that there are those panic buttons everywhere on campus," said DePaul senior Elizabeth McCrea.
This victim was a 28-year-old woman, police said.
DePaul said while speaking to this victim, its public safety department was notified of another attack on a student at the Sheffield Garage, 2331 N. Sheffield Ave. The student was able to escape, DePaul said.
"It must have been absolutely terrifying. I can't imagine that," said Washer.
A police report alleged Redd pushed this victim down inside her car and put his hand around her throat and "squeezed with force" – nearly causing her to lose consciousness.
This student was a 22-year-old woman, and the attack happened at 3:58 p.m., police said.
One of the victims did not want to be interviewed on camera, but did share what she experienced as she got away from her attacker.
The woman said approached Redd, thinking he was a student. She asked for directions, and he offered to show her the way to go.
But she said she felt uneasy and started to walk away.
She said that was she says he attacked her from behind - putting his hand over her mouth and nose, saying, "Don't scream, I have a knife."
DePaul said the same suspect took a backpack from the DePaul Student Center, 2250 N. Sheffield Ave. The victim in this case was also a 22-year-old woman, police said.
The backpack contained an Apple Macbook Air and iPad valued at about $2,200, according to a police report. The victim was able to get her backpack back from a witness who confronted Redd, the report said.
The backpack theft happened just 20 minutes before Redd was arrested, police said.
"I know my mom would be freaking out right now if she knew," Washer said.
As CBS 2's Noel Brennan reported, accepting the realities that come with a campus in the city does not make violence any easier for DePaul students to stomach.
"I think when accepting like going to DePaul you have to take in all those different pros and cons, if you will, of what could potentially happen," McCrea said.
"Possibly fearing for your life at your school shouldn't be a reality in my personal opinion," said Washer. "I just can't believe it."
Redd, a convicted sex offender, is charged with two felony counts of unlawful restraint, one felony count of aggravated battery with the use of a deadly weapon, and one misdemeanor count of theft.
He appeared in bond court Friday.