Detectives working to identify man who posed as security guard at UW

SEATTLE — Detectives with the University of Washington are working to identify a man they say posed as a security guard to get a female occupant to leave with him.

The incident happened about 4:30 a.m. Monday.

Police said a student was asleep in her room when she was awakened by a unknown man standing in her room. The man then told the woman he was with security and that she needed to come with him.

The woman left her room with the man and went to a public area of the residence hall. The woman was afraid and left.

According to police, the man then followed the woman back to her room, re-entered the room and woke the woman's roommate up, telling her the same story. She then left the room with the man and walked out to some benches outside the dorm.

Then the victim said the fake security guard told her she would be “written up” if she didn’t do a “favor” for him. She said he “stood in front of her” and “started messing with his belt.”  The student yelled, and ran to a UW Maintenance worker who happened to be driving by.

The employee drove the woman to UWPD.

After a search, officers could not find the suspect.

The suspect is described to have a dark complexion, about 5 feet 8 inches to 5 feet 10 inches tall, about 185 pounds, clean shaven and in his late 20s to early 30s. He was wearing a light-colored stocking cap, light-colored scarf, beige jacket and beige pants.

If you can identify the individual, you are asked to contact Detective Banyai-Riepl at gbr@uw.edu or call the UW Police Department at 206-685-8973.

Monday morning’s incident followed a string of sexual assaults near and on campus five in the last three months.

Cox Media Group