MSU police arrest man after sexual assaults

By Kyle Feldscher | Originally Published: 03/29/09 11:44pm |Modified: 03/30/09 12:22am | No comments

A 28-year-old Lansing man was arrested Friday for two sexual assaults that occurred on and near campus Thursday night and early Friday morning, MSU police Sgt. Florene McGlothian-Taylor said.

The first sexual assault was reported by an 18-year-old female student who said she was grabbed inappropriately by a man walking past her at 11:45 p.m. Thursday in the open area between West Circle Drive and the Union. The woman did not report any injuries to police, McGlothian-Taylor said in an MSU police press release.

The second assault was reported by a 19-year-old student early Friday near North Harrison and Kensington roads. Police were unavailable to confirm the exact location of the Friday morning assault. The man was arrested shortly after while walking along Michigan Avenue near the scene. Police determined the man matched the description given by the suspect in the sexual assault that was committed on campus just hours earlier.

The man, who has no connection to MSU, was turned over to East Lansing police, where he was in custody as of Friday afternoon, McGlothian-Taylor said.

Emily Meissnest, an advertising freshman who lives in Emmons Hall in Brody Complex, located across Michigan Avenue from where the second assault occurred, said she had not heard about the assaults, but thought the area was well-lit and safe — or at least she did.

“Well, I thought it was safe until (I heard about the crimes),” Meissnest said.

The sexual assaults were the third and fourth assaults reported to MSU police this semester, after two assaults were reported in January.

There was no crime alert sent to students after the assaults were reported.

Dayna Taylor, an advertising freshman who also lives in Emmons Hall, said the news of the assaults scared her. She said she’s going to take further precautions when walking around campus.

“I definitely am not walking alone by myself here,” Taylor said.

East Lansing police did not have any further information on the suspect Sunday evening and said more information may be made available Monday.