Crime alert issued at Ohio University after two women groped

ATHENS, Ohio - A crime alert was issued on Ohio University’s campus after two women were groped by a man early Sunday morning.

According to the alert distributed by the Ohio University Police Department, the first incident happened at about 2 a.m. as a student was walking down a flight of stairs to the lower Seigfred parking lot. The victim told police a man followed her down College Street and down a flight of stairs, pushed her down and grabbed her buttocks.

The victim said the man followed her as she ran to a nearby house on Coss Street. When she got inside the house, the man ran away.

OUPD said about 20 minutes later and several blocks from the first incident, a man with a similar description grabbed another female and put his hand down her pants. The man ran away after the incident. The second incident occurred off-campus near Maplewood and Sunnyside drives in Athens.

Police released a description and sketch of the man who is believed to be behind both incidents.

He is described as:
- 6-feet tall
- Early-to-mid 20s
- 150 to 160 pounds
- Short, blond hair
- Wearing: gray fleece top with hood over dark-colored ball cap, blue jeans and black tennis shoes

In the meantime, campus police urge students to walk with others or use the Safe-T Patrol escort service and stay on well-traveled paths.