U.S. Army leading investigation of sexual assault near University of Utah

SALT LAKE CITY — The University of Utah reports that an investigation into a reported sexual assault is now being handled by the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division (USACID).  

On October 17, via a safety warning, the University of Utah informed students and staff that U of U Police had been notified of a sexual assault that occurred that day between 4:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. in the 400 block of S. Mario Capecchi Drive.

The USACID is now in charge of the investigation because the reported assault happened on property belonging to the Fort Douglas Military Reserve.

The University said that its police department will remain in contact with the Army, and will be the agency that provides information to the campus community when more details become available.

The University said they have remained in contact with the reported victim who is a woman in her late 20s and not a student at the University. The school said it had also made support resources available to her. Those resources include a U of U police detective who specializes in interpersonal violence.

The initial alert sent said the sexual assault occurred in a dark-colored, late-model vehicle after the suspect convinced the victim to get into his car. U of U Police said there was a weapon in the car, but it was not used during the assault.

The victim is reported to have met the suspect on a dating website according to Lt. Jason Hinojosa who spoke with KSL 5 TV. However, Hinojosa said the man in the car was not the same man as the profile picture the woman had viewed online.

University of Utah police said there is a person of interest in this case, described as a male with a slim build with a shaved head.

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