The Gainesville Police Department is calling on UF students to help them identify, catch and arrest a wanted man who robbed and raped a local woman Sunday.
Because the suspect and the victim are both of college age, and because the crime occurred so near the campus area, police have reason to believe students are their best chance of bringing the suspect to justice, said GPD spokeswoman Tscharna Senn.
On Sunday morning at about 4:30 a.m., a black man unknown to the victim knocked on the door of her home, located near campus on Southwest First Avenue
When the victim opened the door, the man threatened her with a knife and pushed her through the entrance.
He took her iPod, cellphone and some cash. He then ordered her to strip and forced her to have sex with him.
He left the house on foot.
The man is described as a college-aged black man about 5 feet 10 inches tall with a slim build with short, cropped hair.
He was last seen wearing a black T-shirt, denim jeans and M&M boxer shorts.
Anyone who believes they may have information about the crime or the suspect is asked to call Detective Lorraine Fair at 352-393-7610, or give an anonymous tip at 352-372-7867.
Gainesville Police have canvassed the victim’s neighborhood as well as notified university authorities who have taken it upon themselves to distribute a flier among the Student Body describing the suspect and the crime.
Beyond the hope that students may help catch the rapist, police would like to remind students to be aware of their surroundings and the dangers of answering their doors for strangers.
“He appears to be a stranger which we don’t see hardly in Gainesville … parents have been calling from all over the place,” Senn said.
“We want to make sure [students] are being very careful who they open their doors to and not to walk alone at night.”
