A male posing as a BearWALK escort entered a female student’s home on the night of June 28 and requested a sexual act after escorting her home.
According to the UCPD crime alert released Tuesday, a young male wearing sunglasses and a tan jacket with the word “Bear” on the lapel approached the student — who was waiting for a BearWALK escort on the corner of Shattuck and University avenues — when she asked the man if he was a BearWALK escort. He replied that he was.
Upon arriving at her home, he asked to go inside and use her restroom and made a request for a sexual act afterward. The student refused, and the man left without physical contact.
“She assumed it was her BearWALK escort,” said UCPD spokesperson Lt. Eric Tejada. “He was just wearing a jacket that said ‘Bear’ on it.”
According to Tejada, certified community service officers are very easy to identify by their distinct uniforms. They wear a yellow shirt or blue jacket that says “CSO” on the back.
Carol Alfano, safety program administrator for BearWALK services, also said BearWALK officers are easy to recognize but that the student was probably tired and not thinking clearly when she assumed he was the BearWALK escort.
Tejada and Alfano said there is no need to change BearWALK procedures but indicated they are on high alert and that all CSOs have been notified.
“It’s like the Boston Marathon,” Alfano said. “Do you stop marathons because of one incident? Let’s hope this was just the one off-the-wall incident.”
According to Alfano, if students become afraid and stop using BearWALK, they could run the risk of walking by themselves, which could be a threat to their safety.
“Next thing you know, they become a statistic,” Alfano said.
Photos of officers in correct uniforms have been posted on the BearWALK website.
contact J. Hannah Lee at [email protected]