Police can't find suspects who injured student near library
Three men in a car tried to kidnap a UA student and steal her purse two weeks ago near the Main Library, but police have no suspects in the case.
The student had just left the Main Library and was walking near North Cherry Avenue and East Second Street around 7 p.m. Jan. 21 when she saw a silver four-door car drive past her and then make a U-turn on Second Street, according to University of Arizona Police Department reports.
The car pulled up next to the student and a male opened the right rear passenger door and grabbed the student's wrist, reports stated.
The man then tried to pull the student into the backseat of the car.
The student told police she managed to get out of the man's grasp, but said another man in the front seat of the car grabbed her purse.
The student said she did not let go of the shoulder strap of her purse and screamed as loud as she could, reports stated.
The driver of the car then pressed the accelerator and the man eventually let go of the student's purse.
The student was thrown onto the pavement and hit the curb, injuring her left knee, left shoulder and the top of her left foot, reports stated.
The student did not seek medical treatment and did not report the incident to police until almost a week later.
The student told police she did not immediately go to police because she was scared and knew she would not be able to identify the three men or the car they had been in.
UAPD spokesman Sgt. Eugene Mejia said the fact that the student took so long to report the incident makes it harder for police to investigate.
On the night of the incident, there was a men's basketball game at 4 p.m. and Mejia said it is likely that people were still in the area when the men tried to grab the student.
Because police could not immediately respond to the scene, it is unlikely that police will find witnesses, making it harder to track down leads, he said.
"The possibilities are lost when someone does not report an incident immediately," he said.
There have been no similar incidents recently reported to police, Mejia said.
The student was only able to give vague descriptions of the men and the car they were in. It is unlikely the men will be found unless they attempt similar actions that are reported, Mejia said.
"It's not the type of situation that can be followed up on with any expectations of solving the crime," he said.
Mejia said the student was smart in trying to attract attention to herself by screaming, but said when it comes down to protecting yourself or protecting your property, you should let the property go.
Mejia said students should try to walk in groups at night or stay in areas where there is a crowd.
Although the case was classified as an attempted highway robbery, Mejia said, if caught, the three men could be charged with kidnapping or attempted kidnapping.
"Kidnapping is restricting someone's movement by force in an attempt to take them to a location where they do not want to go," he said.