Content warning: this warning addresses a report of sexual assault. Resources are available on and off campus to provide assistance. Visit https://eeotix.usc.edu/report/confidential-and-private-resources/for resources and support.
Incident Description: The suspect contacted a female USC student this morning and asked her if he could come over to her apartment. The student was acquainted with the suspect and agreed to have him over. Once in the student’s apartment, the suspect sexually assaulted her.
Date & Time of Occurrence: 04/29/2023 11:00 a.m.
Location: Apartments located on the 2600 block of Portland Street
Report Number: 2302940
Vehicle Description: None
Suspect Description (provided by reporting party):
| Age: | 36 |
| Eye Color: | Brown |
| Hair Color: | Brown |
| Height: | 6 feet 2 inches |
| Race: | Black |
| Sex: | Male |
| Weight: | 240 pounds |
| Additional Description: | Wearing dark framed glasses, a gray sweat shirt and gray sweat pants, and black shoes. Had his hair styled in corn rows. |
| Weapon: | None |
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If you are in immediate DANGER, call the Los Angeles Police Department at 911 or the USC Department of Public Safety at (213) 740-4321.
Please note that race, ethnicity, gender and/or religious affiliation are NOT considered the basis for suspicion; only behaviors are considered suspicious.
If you have information relevant to the crime(s) reflected in this alert, immediately call DPS at (213) 740-6000 for the University Park Campus (UPC), (323) 442-1000 for the Health Sciences Campus (HSC) or (213) 485-6571 for the LAPD Southwest Division.
The Department of Public Safety (DPS) issues Crime Alerts to the university community, in compliance with the Clery Act, when a criminal incident occurs within USC’s Clery geography and represents either a serious or continuing threat to the safety of students, employees and others.
The purpose of this warning is to aid in the prevention of similar crimes by alerting the community about the incident and to provide information which allows individuals to make informed decisions about their personal safety.
No action or inaction by a sexual assault survivor makes that person responsible for another person’s abusive or criminal conduct. The following suggestions may help reduce the possibility of experiencing a crime or may improve opportunities to receive prompt assistance.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, there are time-sensitive decisions to make about preventing sexually transmitted infections, preventing pregnancy and collecting physical evidence.
Individuals who have been sexually assaulted should immediately go to a safe location and call a trusted friend. Preserve all physical evidence of the assault, even if you are unsure whether you want to report the crime to law enforcement. Seek medical care as soon as possible.
Contact USC’s Relationship and Sexual Violence Prevention and Services (RSVP) at (213) 740-4900, available 24 hours, for medical resources, emotional support and advocacy.
If you believe you are the victim of Drug-Facilitated Sexual Assault it is important for you to have blood and urine tests as soon as possible to determine the presence of drugs. Delayed reporting and the passage of time can significantly impact the ability of testing to detect the presence of drugs.
Symptoms of Drug Facilitated Sexual Assault may include drowsiness, confusion, sudden physical weakness especially in the limps, impaired motor skills, inability to walk or talk, weakness, impaired memory, reduced inhibitions, unconsciousness and or a strange sensation of being paralyzed. The Violence Intervention Program Sexual Assault Center at LAC+USC and or the Rape Treatment Center Santa Monica UCLA Medical Center can provide necessary medical services and testing for the presence of drugs.
USC Department of Public Safety Recommendations – Rape
- If you are assaulted, immediately go to a safe location and report the crime to law enforcement. For UPC call DPS emergency at (213) 740-4321, for HSC call (323) 442-1000 or call 911 for LAPD.
- If you observe an assault in progress, STAY CALM AND CALL DPS emergency for UPC at (213) 740-4321, for HSC call (323) 442-1000, or call 911 for LAPD. Do not attempt to apprehend any suspects or perpetrators of crime. Your personal safety and the safety of others around you should be your primary concern.
- Not every person you meet has good intentions. Be cautious of strangers and keep a safe distance. There is safety in numbers, so travel with friends.
- Avoid using cell phones or other technology while walking as criminals target distracted, inattentive individuals using them.
- Be a good witness: It is important to recall what you observed and provide as many details as possible to law enforcement such as: the sex, race, age, height, hair color, clothing, tattoos, scars of any suspects and a description of the make and model of any vehicle used in the crime and its license plate if possible.
- Do not attempt to apprehend any suspects or perpetrators of crime.
Other options to contact DPS, to report crime, ask for help and to receive information:
- Blue light emergency phones are located throughout UPC and HSC. The phones are connected to the USC DPS’ 24-hour communications center and identify the phone location if the caller is unable to speak. The phones can be used to request help, an escort, report suspicious activity and to report crimes. For more information visit: Emergency Blue Light Phones | Department of Public Safety | USC.
- Security Ambassadors: In addition to DPS officers who patrol a 2.5 mile radius around USC’s campuses, USC contracts with “Security Ambassadors” to patrol street corners in nearby neighborhoods and to observe and report crime and suspicious activity. This security force wears bright yellow jackets so you can easily spot them. If you need assistance, look for a Security Ambassador.
- Get a Ride : Lyft is now available at HSC and UPC to cover shared rides. Lyft at UPC is open from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. seven days a week. Lyft at HSC is open from 5 p.m. to midnight, Monday through Friday only. Please visit the USC Lyft page for more information: https://transnet.usc.edu/index.php/campus-cruiser-program/how-to-use-lyft/
- Verify your driver and car: Once you have requested a Lyft ride, you can view the driver’s rating. When your ride arrives, make sure the driver’s photo, license plate number and vehicle description match. Never take a ride you did not request or get into a car that doesn’t match the details provided by the Lyft app.
- Go the extra mile: The Lyft app’s “share your ETA” function allows you to invite friends to see your trip in real-time. The app will draft a text message you can share with friends that includes your ETA and a link to a live map that allows them to track your trip. Too much effort? Call a friend and stay on the line while you’re in the car instead.
- LiveSafe APP: To quickly make emergency push button calls to DPS or 911 on your mobile phone, download the Trojan Mobile Safety APP “LIVESAFE” from Google Play or the Apple iTunes Store. For more information regarding LIVESAFE visit https://dps.usc.edu/services/safety-app/.
- TrojansAlert: Register for USC’s emergency notification system TrojansAlert t o allow university officials to contact you during an emergency by sending messages via text message and email. For more information visit: http://dps.usc.edu/services/trojans-alerts/. (Please note that students, staff and faculty automatically are signed up for TrojansAlerts.)
