Santa Barbara police are investigating a reported sexual assault that allegedly took place on the Santa Barbara City College campus Sunday afternoon.
In a security email alert sent to students and faculty, SBCC officials termed the assault an “alleged rape” and said the victim was approached from behind and knocked to the ground. “At this time there is no description of the suspect or location of the alleged crime,” the alert reads.
Police spokesperson Sgt. Riley Harwood said his office received a second-hand report of the sexual assault at around 10:40 a.m. this morning. He said detectives have been speaking with the victim’s father, but the victim — an adult female who lives out of state — has not been available for interviews. She’s currently in transit with her family back to their home state, Harwood said.
Harwood, noting the investigation is in its very early stages and that the information detectives have received hasn’t been confirmed, said Santa Barbara authorities are making arrangements with law enforcement in the victim’s area so a forensic exam can be performed and so the woman can be connected with the appropriate support and resources.