Attempted abduction reported at OCU
A student at Oklahoma City University told campus police a man tried to abduct her early Wednesday.
OCU Police Chief Jennifer Rodgers said there were two encounters on campus with a man who targeted the students, whom she described as “short-statured” Asian women.
The first encounter happened about 11 p.m. Tuesday, as one of the students was walking across the campus and was approached by the man, described as a black man in his early 20s, standing about 5 feet, 11 inches to 6 feet tall with braided hair put up in a bun.
The man approached the student and attempted to talk to her. The student ignored the man and walked away from him.
About 12:22 a.m. Wednesday, a man drove into the parking lot of the Cokesbury Court Apartments, 2601 N Kentucky Ave., and tried calling another woman by a name she said she didn’t recognize. She tried to tell him that wasn’t her name. The man parked
and exited the car, described as a “dirty and dusty” 4-door hatchback sports car, and ran toward the woman.
Rodgers said the man grabbed the victim by her wrist and went behind her and the student collapsed on the ground. Rodgers commended the woman, saying going to the ground likely prevented her from being abducted and caused the man to flee the area.
About an hour later, campus police issued a blue alert to warn students, faculty and staff about the incident.
The man is not thought to be a student at the university, Rodgers said, adding that it didn’t appear he was “very aware of his surroundings.”
She said the investigation into the attempted abduction has been transferred to the Oklahoma City Police Department due to resources. Campus police have increased their presence in the areas near where the encounters took
place and Oklahoma City police are also increasing patrols there, Rodgers said.
Students and others on campus should be diligent as they walk across campus, especially those who fit the description of the two women approached, Rodgers said. Police escorts are also available by calling 208-5001.
Police officials said the incident is rare on what is described as a quiet campus. On June 1, 2016, a man was caught stealing women’s underwear from the clubhouse of the apartment complex, an official said.
Howard Edward Pay ton, 38, was arrested in that incident and later received a deferred sentence after he pleaded guilty in Oklahoma County District Court to two counts of petit larceny. He has a previous peeping Tom conviction in Oklahoma County, according to court records.
Anyone with information may call OCU police at (405) 208-5911.