Harvard Police Identify Suspect in Sexual Assault

The Harvard University Police Department (HUPD) has identified a suspect in the sexual assault that took place in Harvard Yard last week, Chief Francis D. "Bud" Riley said in an interview last night.

"Because of the nature of the report and the evidence that we have uncovered, it's my belief that we know who the person who committed the assault is," Riley said.

The attack took place in a Yard dorm early Thursday morning.

While the suspect is not in custody, he poses no threat to students, Riley said.

"I am convinced that there is no danger on campus right now," he said. "I don't want students to be fearful that there is a serial rapist."

Riley declined to say whether the suspect had any affiliation with the University.

"I have no reason to believe [the attacker] was an outside person," Riley said, "But I cannot confirm the person's identity."

Riley said that he believes that the attack was an isolated incident.

The victim, a female undergraduate, described her attacker to police as a six-foot tall male with crew-cut hair.

The term "sexual assault" encompasses a variety of crimes, ranging in seriousness from indecent assault to rape. Because the victim filed a police report on condition of anonymity, however, Riley declined to comment on the nature of the assault.

"The victim is extremely publicity-adverse," Riley said, "and so we are willing to go overboard to protect her. We are seriously constrained in the information we can give out."

The department has not put into place any additional security measures in response to the assault, Riley said.

"There have been other instances when we have had reports of break-ins and have had to increase patrols," Riley said. "At this time, however, I haven't assigned any additional officers. I don't view this as a serial entry.

While Riley said students should not be overly concerned about this particular case, he still urged them to pay closer attention to personal safety.

Police officers do believe the dorm room where the attack occurred was unlocked, Riley said.

"I don't want people to be fearful that there's a serial rapist," Riley said, "But I do want them to lock their doors and to be aware of their safety in an urban environment."

Self-locking doors are not necessarily the answer, Riley said.

"It's not so much the locking mechanism as it is the student," Riley said.

Matthews Hall proctor Kristin Lindemann agrees.

"I know from proctors in dorms with auto-lock suite doors that these doors are often propped or disabled for convenience, defying the purpose of an automatic lock," Lindemann said. "There is a lot the dorm community can do to keep itself safe, and the two biggest steps are monitoring who comes into the building and keeping bathroom and suite doors locked at all times."