Both incidents happened Wednesday, according to school officials. The attempted kidnapping occurred around 4:15 p.m. as a female student was walking along Rockwell Canyon Road from the campus toward CalArts, officials said.
The student was approached by a man handing out fliers. The student did not take the flier and did not pay attention to what the man said. A blue four-door Nissan Altima with tinted windows then pulled up, and a man inside grabbed the student in a bear hug. She kneed the suspect twice in the groin and the man released her, officials said. He then got back in his car and took off southbound on Rockwell.
The sexual battery incident happened around 8:15 p.m. as another female student walked to her car at South Parking Lot from Aliso Hall, school officials said. She walked by a man who asked her if College of the Canyons is a good school. Before she could answer, he asked if the student wanted to take pornographic pictures. She told him no and began walking to her car. After a brief attempt to follow the student, the suspect eventually got behind her, grabbed her buttocks and ran off, officials said.
The attempted kidnapping suspect is described as a an African-American man with short dark hair, between 25 and 28 years old, about 5 feet 6 inches tall weighing 150 to 160 pounds. He was last seen wearing a red T-shirt with a black zippered sweater, blue jeans and a black backpack.
The sexual battery suspect is described as a man in his early-to mid-20s who appears to be of an Asian/Caucasian mix with a medium complexion. He has short dark hair, about 5 feet 7 inches tall, weighing 160 to 170 pounds with an athletic build.
Students are being asked to be vigilant and pro-active about personal safety. Anyone with information on these incidents is asked to call campus safety at (661) 362-3229, or the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station at (661) 255-1121.
