Police Information Off-Campus Incident – From HPD Report 2007-020720
TIMELY NOTIFICATION BULLETIN
Possible Threat to the Community
"Your Right to Know"
March 26, 2007
In compliance with the "Timely Notice" provisions of the federal Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act of 1998 the Campus Police are giving notice of a disturbing act of violence being investigated by the Harrisonburg Police. The incident is alleged to have occurred in the apartment complex located on Sun Chase Drive just east of Neff Avenue, south of Reservoir Street, a short distance east of JMU’s campus Arboretum. JMU students predominate as residents of the aforementioned off-campus apartment house complex and that of the oppositely situated Stone Gate Apartments located on the west side of Neff Avenue. According to the Harrisonburg Police, the alleged armed robbery was reported to have occurred at 9:08p.m., Sunday evening, March 25, 2007. The incident reportedly involved the use of a knife and blunt instrument. The victim was allegedly robbed of personal items from his person by the perpetrator.
REPORTED OFFENSES: Aggravated Assault and Armed Robbery
SUSPECT: The suspect was described as a clean shaven Hispanic or Pacific Islander male with a “buzz cut” hairstyle in his early to mid twenties, height approximately 5'10" and weighing approximately 150 lbs.; wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and cargo style tan shorts.
THE EVENT: A man reportedly assaulted and robbed another man at approximately 9:08p.m., Sunday evening, March 25, 2007 in the parking lot of Sun Chase Apartments.
The victim, age early 20s, stated that he was struck in the back of the head with an unknown object. The suspect then removed some items from the victim but at this time there are no details on what was taken. A knife was also reportedly used in the crime but police are not sure how. The suspect fled the scene on foot, direction unreported at this time.
It can be assumed that conditions continue to exist that may pose a threat to members of the community. It is the duty of the institution to warn of possible "dangerous conditions" on or near its campus, and at affiliate organizations off campus; an "affirmative duty" exists to warn persons associated with this university of possible peril at the hands of some third party or parties.
Harrisonburg Police are investigating the incident and searching for the suspect. They ask that anyone with information related to this event or the suspect call Crime Solvers at 574-5050, contact the Harrisonburg Police at (540)434-2545; report in person at the Harrisonburg Public Safety Building Street, northwest corner of North Main and Elizabeth Streets; or on the web at the HPD “Contact Us” site: http://www.ci.harrisonburg.va.us/index.php?id=299.
Alternative means of reporting to the JMU Police are by e-mail publicsafety@jmu.edu, or anonymously through “Silent Witness,” http://www.jmu.edu/pubsafety/SilentWitness.shtml.
Harrisonburg Police safety recommendations emphasize the importance of being aware of one’s surroundings, security of residences and the development of good personal safety habits.
Thank you.