Suspect sought in rape of male student in locker room at Pasadena City College
PASADENA, Calif. (KABC) -- Authorities are searching for a man suspected of raping another man inside a Pasadena City College locker room.
The incident happened Tuesday around 5:15 p.m. Authorities said a college student was raped inside the W-building men's locker room.
The suspect is described as a man standing 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighing 170 pounds, between the age of 20 and 22. He has a shaved head with a mullet type of hairstyle in the back, a septum piercing and was last seen wearing a dark long-sleeved shirt with khaki pants.
PCC superintendent and president, Rajen Vurdien, said the incident was "an affront to the values shared by PCC's faculty, staff and students."
"We are marshaling every resource at our disposal to ensure campus safety, provide a safe environment for our students, and bring the perpetrator to justice. Our hearts go out to the victim and his family and friends," he said.
The college also provided a list of safety tips and resources for students compiled by RAINN, the nation's largest anti-sexual violence organization.
- Know your resources. If you or someone you know is a victim of sexual violence or other harassment, PCC has many resources available to help you. Contact any of the people below to get the help you need, and program emergency numbers into your mobile phone:
- PCC Police Department: 626-585-7484 or the website
- Pasadena Police Department: 911 or 626-744-4241
- Student Health Services: x7244
- Psychological Services: x7273 (confidential resource)
- Office of Student Life: x7384
- National Sexual Assault Hotline: 800-656-HOPE
- Report tips anonymously. If you have information about an incident and you want to share it while remaining anonymous, use the Lancer Anonymous Tip Reporting page on the PCC website. Crimes in progress should always be reported directly to campus police at (626) 585-7484.
- Stay alert. When you're moving around on campus or in the surrounding neighborhood, be aware of your surroundings. Consider inviting a friend to join you or calling PCC PD for an on-campus escort. If you're alone, only use headphones in one ear to stay aware of your surroundings.
- Be careful about posting your location. Many social media sites use geolocation to publicly share your location. Consider disabling this function and reviewing other social media settings.
- Make others earn your trust. A college environment can foster a false sense of security. They may feel like fast friends, but give people time to earn your trust before relying on them.
- Think about Plan B. Spend some time thinking about back-up plans for potentially sticky situations. If your phone dies, do you have a few numbers memorized to get help? Do you have emergency cash in case you can't use a credit card? Do you have PCC's address memorized? If you drive, is there a spare key hidden, gas in your car and a set of jumper cables?
- Be a good friend. Trust your instincts. If you notice something that doesn't feel right, it probably isn't. Never put yourself into an unsafe situation, but if someone looks like they need help, don't be afraid to intervene or call authorities.
