U of M reports attack on another student

University of Minnesota officials issued a crime alert today after a student reported that a pair of men tried to abduct her while she was walking near campus early this morning.

The alert follows a report that a man posing as a police officer sexually assaulted a female student on Sunday. Another female student was sexually assaulted near campus in late October, and there have been a series of recent robberies on or near campus.

In Sunday's attack, the woman told police she was walking on University Avenue near the intersection of Oak Street Southeast when a man who was a passenger in a dark blue sedan asked if she needed help. When she said no, the man got out of the car, grabbed her by the arm and pulled her towards the car, according to the department's crime alert.

"When the victim tried to defend herself with pepper spray, the suspect pushed her to the ground and used the pepper spray on the victim," university officials said in the alert. "The victim screamed and the suspects drove away eastbound on University Avenue."

The Minneapolis Police Department is investigating the incident. Police describe the suspect as a black man between 20 to 25-years-old and between 6 feet 2 inches tall and 6 feet 4 inches tall. Police say the suspect was wearing a black knit cap and a black puffy jacket. There was no description available of the driver.

Minneapolis police are asking anyone with information about the crime to call their tip line at 612-692-8477. The case's reference number is MP-13-394848.

The University of Minnesota released a statement on Wednesday evening saying that university police have beefed up patrols throughout the holiday weekend. The University urged students to walk at night in groups or call a free security escort, although the escort services will be closed until Dec. 5 in observance of the holiday.