[matshark]

http://www.wsls.com/sls/news/local/lync ... ult/36190/

WSLS News Staff
news@wsls.com
Published: May 27, 2009

A 10 On Your Side Crime Tracker.

Liberty University Police have released a composite sketch of a person of interest in connection with a sexual assault.

Investigators say the assault happened earlier this month, on campus.

If you have any information, call Liberty Police Detective Sergeant Sasser at (434) 592-3024.

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Hmm... just thinking it might have been a good idea to let people know what was up immediately after finding out about it instead of waiting. What's up LUPD?

[BJWilliams]

I do wonder why nothing was said. I hope this didnt happen during finals week to one of the students

[ToTheLeft]

I do wonder why nothing was said. I hope this didnt happen during finals week to one of the students

What does finals week have to do with it? Someone was sexually assaulted, it doesn't matter when it was or who it was.

[BJWilliams]

I was simply speculating based on what was mentioned in the news brief. Its a terrible thing regardless of when it happened or who is affected by it as you have said.

[El Scorcho]

The image, just because...

[Ed Dantes]

That can't be a Liberty student. He has an earring.

[flames1971]

That can't be a Liberty student. He has an earring.

Very true. I do hope and pray that he is found because this is a terrible predicament. I feel sorry for the girl that got assaulted.

[LUconn]

who said it was a girl. Maybe they put the earring on the wrong side.

[BJWilliams]

They talked about it on WSET tonight and they said it was a girl

[The Dude]

The image, just because...

[SuperJon]

Looks more like Jeremy than Jesse. I was gonna make that joke but decided against it.

[Barbie's Biggest Fan]

it kind of resembles the guy from the bathroom incident last year...

[Schfourteenteen]

it kind of resembles the guy from the bathroom incident last year...

That bathroom incident guy resembled half of the male student body

[Barbie's Biggest Fan]

Yes, that's very true too. I just don't understand why this wasn't made known to the student body. Granted I won't act any different as far as avoiding being potentially raped, but still we do have the right to know and LUPD is obligated to tell the facts.

[SuperJon]

Could it be that the girl didn't come forward right away?

[RagingTireFire]

we do have the right to know

No, you don't. Particularly in sex assault cases, information is held very tightly -- or is supposed to be held very tightly -- in order to protect the privacy and welfare of the victim.

and LUPD is obligated to tell the facts.

College police departments are obligated to "tell the facts" to state and local police authorities, not the general public.

[matshark]

actually, there's no right to know as far as the victim, however, seeing as there still remains a threat to the public at large, its the same as if there were a shooting with the criminal still at large. so yes, the public does have a right to know asap that an incident occurred as soon as the authorities are notified. i cant think of any reason why letting the public know there has been an incident would not be beneficial. the public is where tips come from. letting them know there has been an incident is the first step in having possible witnesses (as far as seeing something suspicious or persons of interest, etc...) come forward.

outside of the victims privacy and welfare, the public has a right to know the facts regarding the case as far as that an incident occurred, the approximate date/time and location, as well as what the suspect may look like. God forbid you have a second or third incident happen because people didnt know what was going on.