April 08, 2013

Campus Safety Alert

The Southern Illinois University Carbondale Department of Public Safety is investigating an aggravated battery that occurred Saturday, April 6, in the Free Forum Area south of Anthony Hall.

The victim, a 21-year-old SIU student, reported the incident at 10:35 a.m. Sunday, April 7.  He told police that at 10:45 p.m. on April 6, he had just left the north pedestrian overpass and was walking west when two black males tackled him from behind, knocking him to the ground. The suspects did not take anything.  The victim received minor injuries to his head, hand and ankle.  He went on his own Sunday to Memorial Hospital of Carbondale and was treated and released.

The two suspects possibly ran over the pedestrian overpass after the attack.

The two suspects are African American males, and both are described as 18 to 21 years old, 5 feet, seven inches to 5 feet, eight inches tall, 140 pounds, with slim builds and short hair.  Both suspects were wearing short-sleeve T-shirts and blue jeans.  One of the suspects was wearing white tennis shoes.

Anyone with information about the incident should call the SIU Carbondale 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 website at http://www.dps.siu.edu/.