SUSPECT ARRESTED

On March 28 2011 a visitor reported being sexually assaulted by a non-student resident at Cougar Place Residence Hall on the campus of University of Houston. The victim advised she was drugged by an acquaintance and forced to have sex with him. The incident occurred between 11:00pm on 3-27-11 and 7:20am on 3-28-11.

Following an investigation by University of Houston Department of Public Safety, a suspect in the case was identified and arrested on separate charges of possession of a controlled substance and released to the custody of the Harris County Sheriff's Office. Charges of sexual assault are being pursued.

If you have any information concerning this incident or can identify the suspect please contact University of Houston Police Department at 713-743-3333.  

SAFETY TIPS:   Date Rape - Ten Tips to Protect Yourself

1. Remember, you always have the right to say no

• Regardless of the past relationship
• Regardless if you have been drinking

2. Use Caution

• Do not go off alone with someone you do not know well, trust your instincts
• When going out stay with groups, agree with a friend to monitor and take care of each other

3. Be aware of different kinds of pressure

• Rape is when someone forces you to have sex. That force can be:Not stopping when you say no
  • Threatening to hurt you
  • Physically holding you down
  • Using any type of weapon
  • Having sex with you whey you're too high or drunk to say no
• It may also be rape if the person:
  • Threatens to tell other people you had sex if you do not give in
  • Makes it seem like something worse will happen if you do not give in
  • Insinuates they will hurt themselves if you do not give in

4. Be clear about your limits; If someone is pushing you to have sex when you do not want to - say no clearly and assertively

5. Stay in Charge

• Staying in charge means saying what you want and knowing what you are doing
• Avoid drinking and using drugs. They make it hard to stay in charge
• Call a friend or family member to pick you up if you are unsure of your safety. If on campus you can call UHDPS

6. Watch for danger signs.

• If a person does not listen to you at other times, they may not listen to you in a sexual setting
• If a person seems to like it if you are uncomfortable, they may not respect your limits

7. If you are afraid to say no

• If you think saying no will make the situation worse, say you have to go to the bathroom. Then go make a phone call for help
• It is okay to lie to protect yourself

8. What if the person does not listen to no

• Say, "no" again - LOUDLY
• Say, "Stop, you are not listening! You need to respect my limits!"

9. Fight back

• If the person uses physical force fight back, try to get away
• Push them away - hard. Stomp on their toes, knee them in the groin or poke them in eyes
• Yell loudly for help, run to where there are people

10. Get Help

• If you do not feel you can say no or fight back contact UHDPS to sign up for a Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) class
• If someone tries to rape you or if you have been raped, get help as soon as possible Talk to a trusted adult, contact Counseling or Psychological Services (713-743-5454) or the UHDPS (713) 743-3333
• Remember, if a person does not listen to you and sexually assaults you it is not your fault

Updates to this alert and past alerts will be posted at https://www.piersystem.com/go/doctype/1093/21522/.

If you are a survivor or a friend of someone who has been assaulted, these notices may cause you undue distress.  It's important to seek support or help when this occurs.  Some resources available to students are:

• CAPS (713) 743-5454
• University of Houston Women's Resource Center (713) 743-5888
• Houston Area Women's Center Rape Crisis Hotline (713) 528-7272

All faculty, staff and students are encouraged to be alert and to be cautious of their surroundings on and away from campus.

In any emergency situation, or if you see suspicious activity, call 9-1-1. For more information on staying safe and your role in preventing crime, please visit the website of the University of Houston Department of Public Safety at www.uh.edu/police.

You may contact the University of Houston Department of Public Safety at police@uh.edu 

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