Second Sexual Assault Reported Near UC Berkeley
BERKELEY (CBS) -- Berkeley police are investigating a report of a sexual assault in the vicinity of People's Park, the second such report in less that a week.
In both cases the victims were women in their early 20s.
The most recent case occurred Tuesday night, around 11:30 p.m. in the 2500 block of Benvenue Avenue, less than a block from People's Park and near a University of California at Berkeley residence hall.
Police are also investigating a sexual assault that occurred on February 11th, at about 9:10 p.m. in the 2500 block of Haste Street, adjacent to the park.
Berkeley police spokeswoman Officer Jennifer Coats said Wednesday, "We don't know specifically yet if the cases are related."
Coats said the department is actively investigating the sexual assaults and trying to determine if they are related in any way.
No suspects have been arrested in either case.
In the February 11th incident, a female student at UC Berkeley was walking past the park when a suspect, described as a man in his mid 20s, standing 5 feet 9 inches tall with curly hair and a beard, grabbed the victim from behind and then pushed her to the ground.
The suspect sexually assaulted the female student, UC police said.
The victim then reported the crime to the City of Berkeley Police Department.
Campus police said that in this case a report was made to a campus security authority, who is required under the Federal Clery Act to report it to the campus Clery compliance officer. UC police is in turn required to alert the campus community of the crime.
Police have not released any further details or suspect information regarding the reported sexual assault on Tuesday night.
In January, campus police alerted the community to a reported sexual battery at UC Berkeley's Sproul Plaza.
In 2015, UC police alerted the community to 11 reports of sexual assault or sexual battery, including a July 30, 2015 sexual assault at People's Park.
Anyone with information about these crimes or suspects, is urged to contact the Berkeley Police Department at (510) 981-5900.
By Hannah Albarazi - Follow her on Twitter
