Tallahassee Community College Police Department is investigating a sexual assault that occurred Tuesday morning in the Ghazvini Center for Health Education on TCC’s campus.
Around 10:30 a.m., a female student reported that she had been sexually assaulted at the Surgeons Drive Campus.
TCCPD Chief Chris Summers said that the woman has vague knowledge of what the suspect looked like. TCCPD then asked for assistance from TPD's Special Victims Unit, and later turned the case over the unit.
The suspect is described as a black man in his 20s or 30s, 5-foot-10-inches tall and weighing 145 pounds. He was last seen wearing Ray Ban style sunglasses, a black sweater and blue jeans. He was last seen fleeing the scene in a small dark colored 4-door vehicle.
Summers has promised strict security around campus and has suggested that students be extra careful.
“TCCPD will provide enhanced patrol to our campus areas of the next several days during class hours,” Summers said. “I would recommend students continue to be cautious about their surroundings.”
Nathaniel Bell, TCC security officer, believes that the suspect is a student at the college.
"After listening to the report, it seems that the culprit is a student here," Bell said. "Based off how quickly he fled the scene he clearly knows the layout of the campus well."
Antonio Mills, first-year TCC student from West Palm Beach, was shocked at the timing of the incident.
"That's crazy, in broad daylight," Mills said. "Most of the time when you hear about things of this nature it happens at night not while classes are still happening. I just hope that they catch the guy soon. I know the girls on campus must be terrified."
In June 2015, TCCPD entered into a collaborative relationship with Refuge House in an effort to better handle sexual assault cases. TCC has also instituted improved personnel policies regarding domestic violence, sexual violence and stalking.
Brittany Fields, second-year TCC student from Orlando, admits being nervous on campus after the incident.
“I never thought that something like this would happen here. There’s no dorms or anything, so for it to be happening in such a public place during the time of classes is crazy,” Fields said.
TCC is working in conjunction with Tallahassee Police Department to identify the suspect. Anyone with information is asked to contact TCCPD at (850) 201-6100 or TPD at (850) 891-4200.