Tufts Student Sexually Assaulted, Incident May be Connected to Others

A female Tufts University student was sexually assaulted early Saturday morning near the intersection of College Avenue and Stanley Avenue in Medford, according to a university official.

The victim reported being grabbed from behind by a man and indecently assaulted before scaring off the attacker at about 1:15 a.m. Saturday, Tufts University Spokeswoman Kim Thurler said in an email. The victim reported the incident to Tufts Police shortly after it occurred.

Somerville Police have recently received information that indicates the incident is similar to those reported in other parts of Somerville, Thurler said. Most recently, a woman was  just over the city line in Cambridge. 

Typically, the target is a lone female, usually wearing a skirt, who is walking late at night or early in the morning from the Porter Square or Davis Square MBTA Stations, Thurler said. Descriptions of the suspects in these incidents varies; In the incident in Medford, the suspect was described as a darker-skinned male - possibly Hispanic - about 5-feet 7-inches with a thin build, dark short hair, and wearing a hooded sweatshirt.

The university is urging students and residents to take extra safety precautions.

"We are encouraging members of our community to be extra cautious and to avoid walking alone at night," Thurler said in the email "We also encourage them  to take advantage of the 24 hour escort safety service offered by our police."

Anyone who has information related to these crimes is urged to contact Tufts Police at 617-627-3030, Somerville Police at 617 625-1212, or text SPD617 to Tip411, or Medford Police at 781-395-1212.