Home invasion, sexual battery reported near campus

April 11, 2011

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The following information was reported to the Gainesville Police Department and is being distributed to the campus community due to the crime’s close proximity to the University of Florida campus.

A sexual battery and home invasion robbery were reported at 4:30 a.m. Saturday in the 1200 block of SW First Avenue. The victim answered a knock at her door and was met by an unknown male armed with a knife. After robbing the victim of her cell phone, iPod and cash, the suspect ordered the victim to strip and sexually battered her. The victim was forced to shower before the suspect left the scene on foot.

The suspect was described as a college-age black male, approximately 5 feet 10 inches, slim build with short-cropped hair last seen wearing a black T-shirt, denim shorts and M&M boxer shorts.

Anyone with information on this crime or suspect should contact Gainesville Police Department Detective Lorraine Fair at 352-393-7610. If you wish to report information and remain anonymous, please call Crime Stoppers at 352-372-STOP (7867).

The University of Florida Police Department would like to take this opportunity to remind the campus community to positively identify persons before you let them into your home and to keep doors and windows locked at all times. In addition, suspicious persons and activities should immediately be reported to law enforcement in an effort to apprehend criminals before they can target their next victim.

For additional personal safety information, please visit the University of Florida Police Department’s Community Services Division website at http://www.police.ufl.edu/csd/csd.asp or call 352-392-1409 during normal business hours.