A student was recently stalked, drugged, and robbed inside Parks Student Union according to a RAVE alert issued by Campus Safety.
The incident occurred on Thursday, May 25th, between the hours of noon and 4:30.
It is suspected that while the victim was not paying attention, the perpetrator drugged an unattended drink, causing the victim to lose consciousness. During this window, the perpetrator proceeded to steal anything accessible and of value that the victim had with them at the time.
EvCC Security has never had to respond to an incident similar to this one, said Vice President of Human Resources Jason Smith. When a student reports a crime that occurred on campus, a security officer will respond. “Depending on the type of incident,” said Smith, “the officer may request assistance from law enforcement, the fire department or emergency medical services.”
The Campus Safety and Security Office asked that anybody who was in the PSU second or third floor cafeteria area during the period of time the incident took place and noticed any suspicious behavior report it by calling 425-388-9990 or visiting PSU room 226. The alert also mentioned that anyone who has experienced stalking can report this to security, as well as to EvCC’s Title IX office.
Students and faculty alike were concerned when they received the alert of the incident. “I was surprised”, said Director of Educational Technology Hannah Lovett. “It’s really unfortunate and shocking. I think of the campus as a safe place to be, having worked here and been a student here in the past.” Gibson Jenkins, a first year student at EvCC, said “That’s terrifying that somebody could do that, and have that happen to them, especially in broad daylight with so many people around.”
The security office also asked that students remain aware of their surroundings and personal belongings at all times, and to report any crime or suspicious activity as soon as possible. In cases of immediate danger or emergency, it is recommended that students call 911.
The original alert from the Campus Safety and Security office was issued in compliance with the Clery Act. “The intent of these alerts is to enable people to protect themselves,” said Smith. The act requires college officials to issue timely alerts regarding circumstances and events that constitute a serious or ongoing threat to the community.
