Ruth Brown

After two assaults of “a sexual nature” took place on SDSU’s campus in the past two weeks, multiple leads have been reported in the case. The SDSU Police Department is investigating the incidents.

“(SDSUPD) in conjunction with the state Division of Criminal Investigation have received nearly 50 leads, possibly more, and are looking into all of them,” said Bob Otterson, executive assistant to the president. “They have pursued all leads and have conducted interviews.”

At this point, no one has been taken into custody. SDSUPD is currently looking for an older, blue two-tone, full-size “boxy” van with a light-colored center stripe along each side. A suspect matching the description of the assailant was seen leaving this style van slightly before the assault early on the morning of April 7.

The first incident happened on March 29 shortly after midnight on the south side of Briggs Library. The second incident occurred early April 7, also shortly after midnight, in the parking lot east of the Young and Caldwell residence halls. Both times the assailant snuck up on the victims and was armed with a knife, according to Otterson.

In each case, the female student who was assaulted described their attacker as an African-American male of slender build, 5-foot-8 inches to 5-foot-10 inches in height. The suspect was wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt with the hood pulled up and a dark bandana covering the lower part of his face, according to officers working on the investigation.

Anyone with information pertaining to the vehicle or suspect’s description should contact SDSUPD at 605-688-5117 or the Brookings Police Department at 605-692-2113.

The national sexual assault hotline for victims is 800.656.HOPE.

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Editor-in-chief Amy Poppinga contributed to this report.