MD

News

Thursday, June 20, 2013

Advertise with us »

Suspect in three sex crimes to be evicted

Erin Kirkland/Daily
Buy this photo

By Matthew Jackonen, Daily Staff Reporter
Published February 28, 2013

After three students reported that they were sexually assaulted at the same seventh-floor Zaragon Place apartment, building administrators are evicting the assault suspect and taking preventative measures to ensure similar incidents don't occur and police are investigating the connection between the two cases.

Jim Adams, the property manager at the East University apartment building, said upon hearing news of the sexual assaults, building employees immediately began the process of evicting the suspect. While building employees have seen him moving out, Adams said management will continue the formal eviction process.

“We have already started eviction proceedings, but we also have reason to believe he has already moved out,” Adams said. “As a precautionary, regardless, we’re going to go through with an eviction proceeding.”

According to the crime alert released by University Police on Wednesday night, the suspect is a younger-looking 31-year-old Asian male with short black hair and brown eyes. He is between 5’6” and 5’7” tall and weighs 140 pounds.

Adams expressed concern that Zaragon officials were only notified of the incidents last night when the crime alert was sent out. He said the building's security has been briefed on the incident and are doing their best to promote a safe environment.

“It’s the first episode of this nature that has happened here, and we certainly don’t hope to have any more,” Adams said. “It’s important people become educated on the dangers of drinking alcohol, minors drinking alcohol and even more importantly, for people that are not minors providing for and drinking with students that are minors.”

Adams added that Zaragon Place will be reviewing its apartment guest policies to determine whether changes need to be made to prevent parties from getting out of hand.

“Obviously students are going to get together, but we just want to make sure it’s going to be in a controlled environment — which it always has been here,” he said. "I don’t consider this to be an issue with guests, but one person can ruin that. We’re very disappointed, obviously.”

The suspect’s description does not match the suspect currently being investigated for the West Quad sexual assault in January.

University police are still investigating the connection between the three cases. The Ann Arbor Police Department is currently investigating the report of the Feb. 15 case.

The two students who were assaulted in September 2012 told a University employee of their attack but did not file police reports.

Ann Arbor Police have already questioned the suspect, but he has not been arrested at this point in the investigation.

—Daily News Editor Taylor Wizner contributed to this report


|