Campus police identified a suspect in an attempted abduction case that occurred last semester. 
A man approached two female students outside Oklahoma Methodist Hall and inside Cokesbury Court Apartments on March 6. He offered a ride to the first student, who declined, and attempted to grab the second student, who screamed and ran away.
OCU Police Chief Jennifer Rodgers said campus police identified the non-student suspect in August because he was placed on a watchlist on other campuses.
“Speaking with the other campus officers and talking about car descriptions, things started to fall in line,” Rodgers said. “When we saw him on campus, things just started to fall in line.”
But, because the victims were international students and have since returned to their home countries, there is no longer anyone available to identify the suspect as the perpetrator, officials said. Rodgers said campus police have given the suspect the notice to stay off university property, but no official charges can be submitted.
“We know who it is, we know a car, and, of course, this is just a suspect, this is just our best guess of who did this,” she said. “But, without a witness, we are not completely sure.”
Rodgers said, unless the witnesses return to the United States, campus police cannot make any arrests or take additional action.
Destiny Carrington, psychology junior, said that, when the attempted abduction occurred last semester, campus police set out informational cards reminding students of the “Never Walk Alone” program.
“They made sure they put it in the library because that’s where the girl was walking from,” Carrington said. “I think, in all, they’re making the steps that need to be made to make it more safe for us.”
The “Never Walk Alone” program allows students to be escorted on campus by campus police officers if they ever feel unsafe. The officers will escort students by vehicle or on foot.
Campus police also dealt with a suspicious persons case Aug. 24 when two dance students reported unfamiliar people on campus trying to talk to them.
Maureen Austin, dance sophomore, said she was leaving auditions in Ann Lacy School of American Dance and Entertainment and walking to United Methodist Hall when she was approached by a woman with children. The woman asked her about her religious beliefs and if she could pray for Austin.
Austin said, because she is religious, she felt comfortable talking to the woman. But, when she tried to leave, the woman followed her.
“She kept trying to ask me questions about where I came from, what brought me here, why I am dancing, my religious background, and just everything,” Austin said.
While the woman was talking to her, a policeman approached her with another student who had informed the officer. The policeman also approached two other men who were with the woman.
Austin said the officer questioned her about the situation.
“I think campus police do a good job of not only handling situations, but also following through,” she said.
Rodgers said the officers determined that the suspicious persons were a religious group passing out materials. After the officers investigated, the group was asked to leave campus. Because the university is private property, no outside entities or groups are allowed on campus without a permit, she said.
“They had said that they had a permit to do it. I said ‘no, this is a private university, you are on private property, you are not a student, so you need to leave,’” she said. “They’ve all been identified, so if they come back, they’ll be arrested for trespassing.”
To stay safe on campus, Rodgers said students should always lock their room and car doors. She also advised students to pay attention to their surroundings when walking around campus.
“If they would keep their head up and pay attention to what is around them, it would discourage someone from coming up to them with some kind of intent to commit a crime,” she said.
Students also can download the Guardian app, a new initiative of the police force, Rodgers said. They can find the app by searching “Rave Guardian” in the app store. The app allows students to quickly call the police if necessary, alert the police of their location and give anonymous tips about suspicious persons. The app icon is of a blue shield, and it is available for iOS and Android.
Students can call campus police at the non-emergency number 405-208-5001 or the emergency number 405-208-5911.
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