Indecent assault and battery reported on Cambridge Common

At approximately 8:30 p.m. on Oct. 22, an undergraduate student was walking through Cambridge Common when a male approached her from behind, grabbed her wrist and waist, spun her around, grabbed her breast, and then attempted to remove her coat. The victim struck the suspect in the face. The suspect then struck the victim in the face and fled the area.

The suspect was described as a light-skinned male of medium build, between 18 and 25 years of age, and 5 feet 11 inches tall. He was wearing a dark blue or black puffy coat, stocking hat, and white gloves.

The Harvard University Police Department (HUPD) reminds members of the University community to be aware of their surroundings at all times. Students, faculty, and staff should use discretion in choosing their routes of travel at night, avoiding dimly lit and isolated areas such as Cambridge Common.

If anyone has any information regarding this incident, please contact the Cambridge Police Department, Criminal Investigation Unit, at (617) 349-3370.

To report suspicious activity, call HUPD at (617) 495-1212.