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Police investigating another sexual assault in U-District

SEATTLE — Seattle police are investigating a report of a sexual assault in the University District, making it the fifth incident in the area within recent months.

Police said a woman reported that she was walking in the 5200 block of 15th Avenue NE on Friday, when a man approached her. The man and woman walked together on 15th Avenue NE until they reached NE 56th Street, where the man sexually assaulted the woman in the alley.

The man then fled the scene. Police described the man as white, in his 20s, about 5 feet 8 inches tall, with blond hair and wearing glasses.

Friday’s incident is just one of many assaults in the U-District.

On Feb. 27, UW police said a woman was sexually assaulted in a residence hall on campus. The victim had met the suspect on an online dating app. The suspect was described as a 24-year-old man, white 6 feet tall, with a thin build and had cropped and dark brown hair. He was not believed to be a UW student.

On Mar. 6, Seattle police were notified of a sexual assault that happened at 1 a.m. in the 4700 block of 18th Avenue NE. According to police, the victim reported she was approached from behind, pushed and fell to the ground. The suspect then sexually assaulted the victim and left the area. The suspect was described as a white male, tall and in good physical shape.

On April 16, Seattle police said a woman was walking alone at about 1 a.m. in the 4200 block between Roosevelt Way NE and 11th Avenue NE when an unknown suspect grabbed her, forced her into an alley and sexually assaulted her. The victim could not provide a description of the suspect.

On May 1, UW police said a 21-year-old woman was walking near the Burke Gillman Trail, west of Mercer Court, when a man groped her. The woman was able to walk away to a safe place. The man was described as 30 to 40 years old, 5 feet 10 inches tall, with a dark complexion. He had a thick beard and dark brown or black curly, shoulder-length hair.

Police said they have not found any connection between the assaults.

Anyone with information about the incidents is asked to call Seattle police at 206-684-5575.