Witness: robbery of UGA student might have begun as attempted sexual assault

By Joe Johnson

The weekend robbery of a University of Georgia student in her home near downtown Athens appeared to have begun as an attempted sexual assault, according to the student’s roommate.

The 21-year-old student, who wished to remain anonymous, said she was in bed early Saturday when she was wakened by a commotion in her home at Steeplechase Condominiums on Oconee Street.

When she went to investigate, the student said she saw a man who was tussling with her roommate grab the victim’s cellphone and flee.

According to the student, her roommate told her that her assailant followed her home from downtown and forced his way into their home when the roommate opened the door of their home on the third floor.

She said that the intruder tried to restrain her roommate in what she said was “definitely an attempted sexual assault or rape.”

Athens-Clarke County police have not released details of the incident

Police released both a surveillance camera image of the suspect and a Georgia Bureau of Investigation forensic artist’s sketch of the man.

Police asked that anyone with information about the incident or recognizes the suspect to contact Detective Harrison at david.harrison@accgov.com.

The police department issued a media release that reminded citizens to always be aware of their surroundings, stay together in groups, and report suspicious activity by calling 911.