4 sexual assaults reported on ECU campus in under a month, crime log shows

Crime reports at East Carolina University show four reported incidents of second degree forcible rape on campus in under a month. The ECU Police Department is investigating.

The crimes occurred on Oct. 3, 5, 8 and 14, according to the department’s crime log.

The victims and suspects knew each other in the crimes that happened on Oct. 3 and 5, police said. No information has been released about the Oct. 8 and 14 crimes.

“To be clear, sexual assault under any circumstance is unacceptable and is never the fault of the victim,” ECU police wrote in a statement posted to Facebook earlier this month when the first two cases were reported.

“Reports of this nature commonly involve individuals known to each other. We want to emphasize the importance of clear, ongoing and enthusiastic consent in all intimate interactions. Consent can be revoked at any time, for any reason and that decision must be respected,” police said.

The investigation into each case remains open, according to the department’s crime log.

Police have issued the following reminders to help keep students safe:

• Consent: permission or agreement to do something
• Bystander intervention: stepping in to stop or prevent harm without putting yourself in harm’s way, and/or notifying the appropriate authorities
• Healthy relationship: characterized by mutual respect, trust, open communication and shared power with voluntary consent for all intimate activity

Anyone wishing to report a crime can do so by calling the ECU Police Department at 252-328-6787 or 911 in the event of an emergency.