INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana University issued a crime alert on the IUPUI campus after a person reported being raped by a someone they met on a social media app.
The incident was reported Sunday just after 8 p.m. in the 1300 block of West Vermont Street.
The victim told police that they had met a person on a social media app and they had a consensual encounter at first. During the course of that encounter, the victim said the suspect engaged in nonconsensual sexual acts after being told to stop.
The suspect's identity is not known at this time.
The incident remains under investigation by the Indiana University Police Department.
Anyone with information on this crime or any other crime is encouraged to call the IU Police Department - IUPUI at 317-274-7911 or Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317-262-8477.
Indiana University offers the following safety tips:
Sexual assault can happen to anyone. Each member of the IUPUI community shares in the responsibility to create and maintain a safe and respectful environment for all individuals. You can help reduce the risk of sexual assault by watching out for the safety of others. While not all crimes of sexual violence are alike, the following information may be helpful:
You can help reduce the risk of sexual assault by watching out for the safety of others. While not all crimes of sexual violence are alike, the following information may be helpful:
- Perpetrators of sexual assault are often more likely to assault someone they know, or are familiar with, rather than a stranger. The perpetrator, not the survivor, is responsible for any instance of sexual assault.
- Consent – Anyone initiating any kind of sexual contact with another person must obtain their consent. Consent is an agreement or permission expressed through affirmative, voluntary words or actions that are mutually understandable to all parties involved. Consent cannot be given by someone who is incapacitated by the use of alcohol and/or drugs.
- Personal Safety – Perpetrators may use social media platforms to meet potential victims. Be cautious on what you share and how you use social media. Perpetrators often use drugs and/or alcohol to target potential victims. Date rape drugs are tasteless, colorless, odorless, can be ingested in a multitude of forms, and effects are not immediately apparent. Be cautious of any substance you are drinking, eating or inhaling that you have not personally prepared and has not remained in your constant control.
- Bystander Intervention – Look out for each other. If one of you cannot be with a group of trusted friends, tell each other where you are going, whom you will be with, when you expect to return, and that you’ll contact them if anything changes. If you see someone in trouble, safely intervene or call the police immediately.
