Incident Description: The two victims were walking on the sidewalk of West 37th Place. The suspect approached from behind them and grabbed the buttocks of both victims. The suspect then ran away eastbound on 37th Place. The victims lost sight of him in the area of 37th Place and Catalina Street.
Content warning: this warning addresses a report of sexual assault. Resources are available on and off campus to provide assistance. Visithttps://eeotix.usc.edu/report/confidential-and-private-resources/ for resources and support.
Reported Offense: Sexual Battery/Fondling
Date & Time of Occurrence: 09/03/2024 10:25 p.m.
Location: 1200 block of West 37th Place
Report Number: 2403001
Vehicle Description: None
Suspect Description (provided by reporting party):
| Age: | 20 years old |
| Eye Color: | Unknown |
| Hair Color: | Black |
| Height: | 5’4″ |
| Race: | Hispanic |
| Sex: | Male |
| Weight: | Unknown |
| Additional Description: | The suspect was described as having short, black hair. He was wearing a green and white long sleeve shirt and tan or khaki pants. |
| Weapon: | None |
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 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.
USC Department of Public Safety Recommendations – Fondling
- Travel in pairs or with trusted companions, especially at night or in remote areas.
- If someone is intoxicated or incapacitated, call for a taxi, rideshare or other car service, and make sure a trusted friend safely accompanies the incapacitated friend to their door.
- USC Safe Ride Program – Get a Ride: Arrange safe transportation to and from home (walking with a friend, using a ride share program such as the USC Safe Rides Program powered by Lyft).
- If you observe a crime in progress, go to a safe location and call DPS emergency for UPC at (213) 740-4321, for HSC call (323) 442-1000 or call 911 for the 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.
- 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.
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 TrojansAlertt 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.)
