March 23, 2011

Campus Safety Alert Southern Illinois University Carbondale March 23, 2011

The Southern Illinois University Carbondale Department of Public Safety is investigating an aggravated battery that occurred Wednesday, March 23, on the sidewalk in front of the entrance to Allen II residence hall.

The incident occurred at 12:13 a.m., and involved a 19-year-old SIUC student. The victim told police he was walking on the sidewalk and texting on his cellphone when he was hit in the face by an unidentified person and fell to the ground. A witness told police the suspect was seen speaking to people in front of Allen I after the attack and then later entering Allen III residence hall. Two other men with the suspect at the time of the attack also went into Allen III.

Police responding to the attack believe the three men escaped through a basement backdoor in Allen III, and ran toward Mae Smith residence hall.

The victim suffered facial injuries. He was taken to Memorial Hospital of Carbondale and later transferred to St. Louis University Hospital.

The suspect is described as a black male wearing a dark blue or black hooded sweatshirt with gray pants. The suspect pulled the hood down to cover his face prior to hitting the victim, police said.

Police are also seeking the two men with the suspect at the time of the attack. The men are both black males, one was wearing a blue polo-style shirt and jeans; the other man was wearing dark pants and a gray hooded sweatshirt.

Anyone with information about the incident should call the SIUC Department of Public Safety at 618/453-3771 or the Crime Stopper Line at 618/549-COPS.

Police advise members of the campus community to be aware of their surroundings at all times, and if traveling at night to use the Saluki Express, Night Safety Transit Service and Brightway Path. In addition, emergency call phones are located across campus, including on both overpasses.

For more information on safety precautions, visit the Department of Public Safety web site at http://www.dps.siu.edu/.