Tufts University student allegedly assaulted on front porch

SOMERVILLE, Mass. - Police are looking for a man who allegedly indecently assaulted a Tufts University student early Sunday morning.

Tufts University is warning students and neighbors to be on high alert after the shocking assault happened just off campus.

The woman was walking on Curtis Avenue around 12:15 a.m. when a man followed her onto her front porch, she reported to police. When she turned around, the man allegedly touched her inappropriately. The man then ran towards Conwell Avenue.

Tufts University Police, Somerville Police and Medford Police searched the area, but didn't find the suspect.

The suspect was described as having a dark complexion, late teens to early 20s, 5-foot-8-inches, wearing a black and blue jacket and black pants.

The victim was so shaken up by the assault that she didn't want to go on camera.

However, she told Boston 25 News the incident happened as she was opening the front door to her house, located just off campus. The man approached her from behind and touched her inappropriately, which is when she screamed, prompting him to run away.

"That's really concerning, I'm really surprised at that, that means that person was probably watching their behavior for a really long time, or they knew where they were living," said Mariya Ilyas, a student at Tufts.

Tufts University students received an alert on Sunday warning them about a man who indecently touched a young woman as she was walking home just after midnight.

"It's really frightening, I have a daughter who lives around the corner," said Lynn Petersen. "So she's been in this area out at night by herself often, so it's very alarming."

Petersen says her daughter attended Tufts several years ago and still lives in the area - and so far, she says it's been mostly safe.

"I will say, the police officers and the shuttle ride drivers, when they drop us off they don't leave until they make sure we're inside our home, so I appreciate that and that's why I use the shuttle," said Ilyas.

The university encourages its students to use the saferide service late at night.

If you have any information regarding the incident, contact the Tufts Police at 617-627-3030 or call the Somerville Police at 617-625-1600.

Cox Media Group