New Jersey

Teen Arrested in Rutgers University Dorm Room Sex Attack on Sleeping Student: Sources

"It's a disgusting thing to hear about and I hope the girl is okay that it happened to," said freshman Angela Kearsley

What to Know

  • Police have made an arrest after a Rutgers student was sexually assaulted while she was sleeping inside a her dorm room, police sources say
  • The student was asleep in a dorm room on the Livingston Campus when the suspect made "unwanted sexual contact," police say
  • When the student woke up, the suspect left the room and fled the dorm, according to police. The student didn't sustain any physical injuries

Police have made an arrest after a student was sexually assaulted while she was sleeping inside her dorm room at Rutgers University, law enforcement sources tell NBC New York.

The student was asleep in an "unsecured" dorm room on the Livingston Campus in Piscataway, New Jersey, around 7:40 a.m. on Oct. 20 when the suspect went in and made “unwanted sexual contact,” Rutgers police said Sunday.

When the student woke up, the suspect left the room and fled the dorm, according to police. The student wasn't physically hurt. 

According to police sources, the suspect in custody is a 17-year-old high school student from South Brunswick. Because he is a juvenile, his name was not released.

The teen has been charged with aggravated criminal sexual contact and burglary. Information regarding an attorney for the teen was not immediately available. 

"It's a disgusting thing to hear about, and I hope the girl is okay that it happened to," said freshman Angela Kearsley. 

Rutgers students describe the campus as quiet, calm and the last place to expect such an attack. 

"I always walk with a buddy, we always walk with people. Lock your doors. Don't let random people into your building because they're locked for a reason," said Kearsley. 

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the Rutgers Police Department Detective Bureau at 848-932-8025.

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