Assembly Hall site of reported assault

An 18-year-old female student reported that she was raped in an Assembly Hall bathroom during the IU-Purdue basketball game Tuesday. \nAccording to IU Police Department reports, the woman was found unconscious in the women's restroom on the west side near section C of Assembly Hall.\nIUPD Lt. Jerry Minger said she was brought to the first-aid room about 8:40 p.m., with vomit on her clothing. Police noted she had bloodshot eyes, smelled like alcohol and couldn't walk straight. The first-aid room nurse recommended she be taken to Bloomington Hospital by ambulance. Police reports indicate that at about 11:15 p.m., the woman told an emergency room nurse that a man drugged and raped her in the restroom.\nAccording to police reports, the woman spoke with IUPD Det. Leslie Slone at the hospital, where the victim said a "tall, skinny black male of college age wearing a black T-shirt and jeans" came into the bathroom stall she was using and hit her in the left upper arm and the head several times. The woman said she was dizzy and blacked out after being hit in the head.\nBloomington Hospital Media and Community Relations Manager Jonna Risher said when a patient reports rape, that person has the option of filing a report and taking an evidence collection test. However, the test is not required.\n"We always support (the patient) and encourage them to report it," Risher said. "We always offer medical care and evidence collection to the patient with their consent. It's up to the patient."\nMinger said he suspects the victim took an evidence collection test. Bloomington Hospital could not confirm or deny this information.\nRisher said the woman's identity or condition could not be released without her consent.\nMinger did not have any information on the woman's health. He said the case is under investigation, and IUPD detectives will continue to interview her.\n"In every sexual assault case, after an incident, detectives re-interview witnesses and victims," he said. "(In this case) we will try to confirm some of the inconsistencies in her story."\nMinger said several details in the case conflicted, but he could not discuss specifics in an ongoing investigation.\n"It could be that her recollection of what happened was a little bit off," he said. \nAccording to Indiana law, rape is a Class A felony punishable by a fine of up to $10,000 and 20 to 50 years in jail. False reporting of crimes is considered a Class D felony. The crime carries a penalty of a fine up to $10,000 and six months to three years in jail.\nMinger said the woman was charged with illegal consumption of alcohol and public intoxication.\n"Unless someone forced her to consume alcohol, we have to follow the law because she is 18," Minger said. "As far as we know, she consumed it on her own free will."\nHowever, Minger said she won't be charged with using illegal drugs if she was drugged by the alleged suspect.\nMinger said a rape has never been reported during an athletic event. The most recent reported incident of rape occurred Jan. 14 when an 18-year-old student told police that she had been raped at the Delta Tau Delta fraternity.\nAssistant Athletics Director Kit Klingelhoffer said he was "totally unaware" of the alleged rape incident. He said an outside security company patrols the basketball games in addition to the IUPD.\nIn a statement, IUPD Capt. Keith Cash said in response to the incident, IUPD will conduct extra patrols during athletic events, particularly around restrooms at athletic facilities.\nMinger said IUPD is asking witnesses to come forward. He said the police department is asking anyone who might have seen something unusual or has any information pertaining to the incident to call the IUPD investigations department at 855-4111.\n-- Contact Staff Writer Lori Geller at lfgeller@indiana.edu.