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Winthrop police: Student pinned down, sexually assaulted on campus

ROCK HILL, S.C. — Winthrop police are investigating a sexual assault on the school’s campus.

A female student told police Thursday that she was assaulted around 9:30 p.m. Oct. 29 behind Bancroft Hall near Margaret Nance and Owens Hall. She said she was looking for a friend's keys in the grass when an unknown man came up behind her.

The student told police she tried to walk away, but stumbled on a light fixture and fell. She said the man pinned her down and forced her to perform a sex act on him. He fled the scene afterwards. Police said they don't have a description of the man.

Student Destiny Condra was shocked to hear about the sexual assault. Condra said she was a freshman when another student was attacked two years ago in the same general area.

"I know she's been traumatized by it and its very hard for her to still be here," Condra said.

In addition to the rape, campus police said an armed robbery also took place in an area near Bancroft Hall earlier this year. Officers arrested both suspects and the school has added cameras and an emergency call box in the area.

"We have a safe campus, we have an open campus, crime occurs,” said Chief Frank Zebedis of the Winthrop Police Department.

Police sent out an alert to students Friday morning to make them aware of the incident on campus.

Police are asking for assistance in finding the person responsible for the sexual assault.

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