Two suspects still at large in string of sexual assaults in dorms and garage

SafeRide will now expand its service to pick up and drop off students at their cars in university parking garages, the programâs director said.

The move comes in response to Thursdayâs sexual assault in the Park Avenue Garage, in which a man pushed a woman into her car as she was getting out and raped her.

Before the incident, SafeRide drivers could not enter the garages because they had no way of getting out without paying the exit fee.

SafeRide director Craig Haubrich said that despite the serviceâs expansion, the hours would not increase because of the assault. Service will still be offered during finals week, as originally planned.

He also predicted that SafeRide usage would increase as a result of Thursdayâs incident.

SafeRide operates Sunday through Thursday nights from 7:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. To request a ride, students can call 621-SAFE.

A University of Arizona Police Department spokesman also confirmed yesterday that Thursdayâs incident is now being classified as a sexual assault. They had originally reported that it was an attempted sexual assault.

UAPD Cmdr. Brian Seastone said a sexual assault occurs when penetration is involved.

The suspect in the Thursday incident has been described as being in his 20s, more than 6 feet tall, with spiky black hair.

The latest incident marked the sixth that occurred on campus in a one-week period.

The string of incidents began April 17 when a Tucson man, Esteban Rodriguez, allegedly attempted to sexually assault three girls as they were showering at Arizona Sonora Residence Hall.

On April 20, Rodriguez was arrested after he allegedly attempted to sexually assault a Manzanita-Mohave resident as she was showering.

On Tuesday evening, a La Paz resident was attacked by a different masked intruder as she showered.

That suspect, who is still at large, is described as 5 feet 9 inches tall, with a thin build and blue eyes.

On Friday, university spokeswoman Sharon Kha released a memo to the campus community reminding both students and staff to use caution, but to not be paralyzed by fear.

ãThe campus community needs to start partnering up and looking out for each other,ä Kha said yesterday.

Kha added that not only students but staff also should take precautions.

After the April 17 incident, a lock-down was implemented on all residence halls. Students and Residence Life staff were also advised to be aware of who was attempting to enter the building.

Some students said that although everyone on campus needs to have a higher sense of awareness, police presence has been less than satisfactory.

Danielle Wiemann, a pre-pharmacy freshman, said that last week was the first time this school year that she actually saw police patrolling the area.

Liz Harris, an education freshman, and Marianne Burkett, an undeclared freshman, both said that although security within the residence halls needs to be increased, there is only so much UAPD can do.

La Paz resident Mary Francis Miller said that as of yesterday night, sneaking into the dorm was as easy as it was before the string of attacks occurred.

Miller said her boyfriend was able to sneak in last night with no problems at all.