WUFT News News and Public Media for North Central Florida from the University of Florida in Gainesville
The University of Florida Police Department is investigating an assault that was reported at about 2:30 a.m. Friday in the Library West area of the Florida campus, according to Ben Tobias, Gainesville Police Department public information officer.
The suspect is described as a man of large build, in his 20s and 6-feet tall, with brown hair, a brown beard, wearing an orange shirt and blue cargo shorts. Initially, both UPD and the Gainesville Police Department were searching for the suspect but they did not locate him in the immediate hour following the initial report. An alert was sent to the UF community around 3:30 a.m.
This is the fourth public assault in the last week, following two near campus incidents Saturday and one on NW 15th St. on Wednesday. There is no confirmation that the attacks are related.
Around 8:30 a.m., GPD released an update on the suspect in Saturday night’s two sexual assault attempts. A composite sketch of the suspect has not been completed because none of the victims or witnesses could recall enough detail to complete one, according to Tobias.
The description of the suspect in Saturday and today’s attack is similar, but police have not linked the two incidents.
In reference to this morning’s attack Tobias said he would not be speaking on the investigation since it occurred on UF property and is within UFPD’s domain.
“But we are working very closely with them (UFPD) since the suspect description is very similar,” Tobias said in a release. “Patrols have been increased in the area and will be further increased as we move into the game weekend.”
