Friday, March 03, 2006

Wilmington - University Police Chief David Donaldson today released information about the vehicle possibly driven by the suspect involved in Tuesday evening's physical attack on a female UNCW student. The vehicle has been identified as a white or very light colored paint, Z71, regular cab, Chevrolet/GMC Truck with hand rails on the bed.

Police investigators request that anyone who might have seen a vehicle matching that description on or near the UNCW campus around 9 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 28 to contact them at 910/962-3184 or 962-TIPS. Witnesses may have observed the vehicle being driven aggressively or being operated in unusual circumstances.

Donaldson expressed appreciation for the variety of leads that have come in. Nevertheless, additional witnesses who have not yet contacted the police department are encouraged to do so. Anyone that was in the general vicinity of the Honors House and International House during this time period who may have observed anyone fitting this description or encountered any type of suspicious activity should contact the UNCW Police Department at 962-3184 or anonymously by phone 962-TIPS or e-mail http://www.uncw.edu/ba/police/.

Suspect information remains unchanged. He is described as a white male, tall possibly 6 to 6 ft 5 inches and slender with dark brown hair and wearing a white long-sleeved shirt, dark pants, possibly blue jeans. He was further described as a generally large, yet agile individual with a strong build.

Although University Police have increased patrols, individuals on campus are encouraged to remain aware of their surroundings and report any suspicious activity. Police recommend that students take additional safety measures, including: requesting an escort from UNCW Police, ext. 3184, walking with a group, utilizing well-lit walkways and the Seahawk Shuttle, remaining aware of emergency call box locations, and carrying a cell phone.