BELLINGHAM, Wash. - A University of Washington-Tacoma student is recovering after being attacked Saturday morning.
Police say the woman was visiting a friend on Western's Bellingham campus. She reported that a man emerged from a wooded area while she walked into a campus parking lot about 1:30 a.m.
She says the man groped her and punched her in the face as she cried for help. The man ran away.
"We sent the K-9 unit into the area but found no sign of him," said Western's Chief of Police, Randy Stegmeier.
He says this is the first assault at the university this academic year.
"These types of attacks are very unusual for us," he said.
The assault has many students concerned about their safety.
"This is scary," said student Maria Ericksen. "I went out that night and carried my roommate's pepper spray."
Campus Police say an e-mail alert was sent to students and faculty within an hour of the attack.
"Eighty percent of our student body is signed up to receive an alert," said Stegmeier.
The attack happened so fast that no one could get a good look at the attacker. Police are investigating.
