Repeat victim reports sexual battery

A 28-year-old woman reported a 39-year-old man committed sexual battery against her 8:30 p.m. Tuesday on the west side of town.

Bloomington Police Department Sgt. Joe Crider said this is the third report of sexual battery from the woman regarding the 39-year-old man. The man and woman are in the process of a divorce.

Crider said the woman would not accept a sexual assault kit, and she would not permit BPD to interview the man.

A sexual assault kit helps gather physical evidence for the investigation, he said.

Physical evidence is crucial in sexual assault cases, Crider said, especially for cases with romantically involved parties because accounts of what happened may differ.

However, he said victims of sexual assault are empowered with the decision to press charges or not.

"If the victim doesn't want us to interview the subject, it makes it very hard to pursue the investigation," Crider said.

The case is still active, and the BPD has informed the 28-year-old woman how to go about obtaining a restraining order against the man.

Sarah Zinn