A fourth sexual assault in 10 days was reported to local authorities after a woman was raped and robbed at gunpoint early Sunday morning on West Stadium Boulevard.
Ann Arbor Police Department Sgt. Phillip Scheel said he did not yet know if this recent incident was related to last Tuesday's assault at the Nob Hill apartment complex.
"It's too early to tell at this point," Scheel said.
Scheel said AAPD and Southfield Police Department detectives met last Thursday and Friday, but did not find any similarities between the Nob Hill case and a sexual assault that occurred last week in Southfield.
"They'll keep in touch," Scheel said. "I don't think that you could consider it a joint investigation at this time."
In the latest incident, the woman, manager of the Subway store at 2410 W. Stadium Blvd., had opened the back door of the store at 3:21 a.m. Sunday, when she was confronted by a man with a handgun.
According to AAPD reports, the man asked her for money from the store's safe. She was unable to open the safe, so the suspect allegedly took the victim's money, wallet and credit cards.
Then, the man forced her under gunpoint up a nearby hill, and raped her, according to AAPD reports.
The suspect is described as 5-foot-8 and in his mid-20s. The medium-built man has a dark complexion and was last seen wearing dark sweatpants, a hooded sweatshirt and a bandana, according to AAPD reports.
Joyce Wright, prevention and education coordinator for the Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center, said last week that there are different reasons why more sexual assaults are reported, including an increased awareness of where to report the assaults.
"It's very hard to tell," Wright said. "People come forward for a variety of reasons."
LSA sophomore Iris Chien said she agrees that the actual number of assaults may not be increasing, but that people may be reporting them more.
"I think it's always been occurring," Chien said. "I don't know if people are reporting it more now."
Engineering sophomore Kirsten Kresnac said she thinks sexual assaults are part of campus life, and the recent assaults are not connected.
"I know it's a problem with campuses," Kresnac said. "I don't think (it's a trend)."
LSA sophomore Byron Kaufman said he thinks the recent assaults may be related.
"Four times - of course it's a trend, especially with robbery involved," Kaufman said. "Maybe robbery was the focus, but it changed its nature."
Police are still searching for the suspect in the assault at Nob Hill Apartments that occurred last Tuesday afternoon.
A woman was handcuffed and her mouth was duct-taped in her apartment by a man who entered her room under the pretense of being a maintenance worker. She was allegedly sexually assaulted and then robbed under gunpoint.
The medium-built suspect was last seen wearing a dirty gray-hooded sweatshirt, jeans and brown boots. He is described as 5-foot-10 to 6-foot and between 25-30 years of age, according to AAPD reports.
Anyone with information about the crimes should call AAPD at 994-2911.
A fourth sexual assault in 10 days was reported to local authorities after a woman was raped and robbed at gunpoint early Sunday morning on West Stadium Boulevard.
Ann Arbor Police Department Sgt. Phillip Scheel said he did not yet know if this recent incident was related to last Tuesday's assault at the Nob Hill apartment complex.
"It's too early to tell at this point," Scheel said.
Scheel said AAPD and Southfield Police Department detectives met last Thursday and Friday, but did not find any similarities between the Nob Hill case and a sexual assault that occurred last week in Southfield.
"They'll keep in touch," Scheel said. "I don't think that you could consider it a joint investigation at this time."
In the latest incident, the woman, manager of the Subway store at 2410 W Stadium Blvd., had opened the back door of the store at 3:21 a.m. Sunday, when she was confronted by a man with a handgun.
According to AAPD reports, the man asked her for money from the store's safe. She was unable to open the safe, so the suspect allegedly took the victim's money, wallet and credit cards.
Then, the man forced her under gunpoint up a nearby hill, and raped her, according to AAPD reports.
The suspect is described as 5-foot-8 and in his mid-20s. The medium-built man has a dark complexion and was last seen wearing dark sweatpants, a hooded sweatshirt and a bandana, according to AAPD reports.
Joyce Wright, prevention and education coordinator for the Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center, said last week that there are different reasons why more sexual assaults are reported, including an increased awareness of where to report the assaults.
"It's very hard to tell," Wright said. "People come forward for a variety of reasons."
LSA sophomore Iris Chien said she agrees that the actual number of assaults may not be increasing, but that people may be reporting them more.
"I think it's always been occurring," Chien said. "I don't know if people are reporting it more now."
Engineering sophomore Kirsten Kresnac said she thinks sexual assaults are part of campus life, and the recent assaults are not connected.
"I know it's a problem with campuses," Kresnac said. "I don't think (it's a trend)."
LSA sophomore Byron Kaufman said he thinks the recent assaults may be related.
"Four times - of course it's a trend, especially with robbery involved," Kaufman said.