Sexual Battery
On 03/01/17, at approx. 11:00pm, a Sexual Battery occurred at the CalTrain Station located at 95 University Ave., Palo Alto. The victim reported that while waiting for a bus, the suspect approached her and asked for directions. He then grabbed her arm and and pelvic region. The victim yelled at the suspect who then fled towards the tunnel with the victim in pursuit. The suspect was last seen running into the south tunnel in an eastbound direction. The victim was transported home by a passerby and then called the police to report the incident. Both Palo Alto Police and the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Dept. responded to the area but could not locate the suspect. The San Mateo County Sheriff’s Dept. is conducting the investigation since the Train Station is within their jurisdiction. The suspect was described as: Hispanic male adult, 35-40 years, approx. 5′-6", heavy set, short black hair, full beard, wearing a green hooded sweatshirt with letters, beige pants, dark tennis shoes, and carrying a backpack with many zippers.
If you have information about this crime, please call the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Dept. at (650) 363-4911.
Stanford University does not tolerate sexual assault, sexual misconduct or sexual harassment. The university encourages anyone who has been sexually assaulted or subject to other forms of sexual misconduct or harassment to report the incident to university officials.
The information about this incident is being reported to you in accordance with the Clery Act. The remainder of this email provides information about preventing and reporting sexual assault.
- Ignorance of the law or of university policy concerning sexual assault, sexual misconduct and sexual harassment is not a defense.
- Receive affirmative consent from your partner before engaging in sexual activity.
- Perpetrators may attempt to use alcohol to facilitate a sexual assault. Statistically, the majority of reported sexual assaults occur while one or both parties are under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Alcohol or drugs may impair one’s ability to judge whether or not consent has been given, but it is never an excuse for choosing to violate another person.
- There are a number of drugs that may be added to beverages with the intent of altering the consciousness or incapacitating a person without their knowledge. These drugs are particularly dangerous when combined with alcohol and often produce amnesia, leaving a victim unclear about what occurred afterward. These drugs can facilitate criminal activity; most often acts of sexual misconduct or sexual assault.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, or if you aren’t sure whether you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, there are a number of resources available to you at Stanford to inform you of your options and to support you in whatever path you choose to take in addressing the incident. For more information contact:
CONFIDENTIAL COUNSELING:
Stanford Confidential Support Team
https://vaden.stanford.edu/get-help-now/sexual-assault
650-726-6933 or 650-725-9955 (after hours)
YWCA Silicon Valley Rape Crisis Hotline
650-493-7273
CAPS (Counseling and Psychological Services)
650-723-3785
https://vaden.stanford.edu/caps-and-wellness/counseling-and-psychological-services-caps
Faculty Staff Help Center
650-723-4577
https://cardinalatwork.stanford.edu/faculty-staff-help-center
NON-CONFIDENTIAL RESOURCES AND REPORTING:
Title IX Office
https://titleix.stanford.edu
650-497-4955
Sexual Assault and Relationship Abuse (SARA) Office
https://sara.stanford.edu
Police
911 (emergency)
650-329-2413 (non-emergency)
650-723-9633 (8am-5pm)
https://police.stanford.edu
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
Sexual Harassment Policy Office
https://harass.stanford.edu
Stanford Sexual Assault Support & Resources (Not Alone website)
https://notalone.stanford.edu
https://stanford.app.box.com/sexual-assault-resources (handout)
Stanford Actions on Sexual Assault
https://notalone.stanford.edu/stanford-actions-sexual-assault
