Madison saw its second stranger kidnapping and sexual assault in less than two weeks early Saturday morning when a UW-Madison student was abducted, assaulted and then dropped off near campus at approximately 3 a.m.
It is the third stranger sexual assault since late November.
According to Madison police, the woman was walking on the 500 block of North Carroll Street when she was abducted. Police have not released any descriptions of the male suspect, who remains at large.
The first incident occurred Nov. 29, when an 18-year-old female student was walking on the 1500 block of Observatory Drive when a man forced her into his car, sexually assaulted her at an unknown location and released her back on campus.
Although UW Police have yet to make any arrests in the case, they described the suspect as a black man in his mid-20s, with a stocky build, thin mustache and shaved head.
That description is similar to the one given by Madison police Spokesperson Mike Hanson for the suspect in an East side sexual assault that also remains unsolved. According to Hanson, an unidentified man broke into a house near the East Towne Mall last week, sexually assaulting a woman inside before fleeing on foot.
Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, represents much of downtown Madison, including the section of Carroll Street where the UW-Madison student was abducted Saturday morning. He said the nature of the attack, coupled with the incident in late November, was particularly shocking.
To have it be that violent, that bold,"" Verveer said. ""It's a tremendous cause for concern.""
He went on to call the assault ""absolutely tragic,"" noting there have been more downtown sexual assaults in 2006 than during previous years of his decade-long term on City Council.
As part of an effort to prevent violent crime in the central city, Mayor Dave Cieslewicz has promised $100,000 of city money for a 2007 Downtown Safety Initiative. Police Chief Noble Wray will have the final say on how the money is spent, and is expected to address both muggings and sexual assaults near the UW-Madison campus.
Both Central District Commander Mary Schauf and Hanson have commented that mugging victims are often too drunk to identify their attackers or defend themselves. Police have not said whether Saturday's assault victim had been drinking before she was abducted.
In contrast, Verveer pointed to studying, and not drinking, as a factor that could endanger students in the next two weeks.
""I just know that with finals a lot of kids are going to be coming home by themselves late at night,"" Verveer said. ""And I would just urge them to take as many precautions as possible.""
Madison Police Sgt. Steve Beavers said police have yet to make any arrests in the case, though he stressed the investigation is ongoing and that downtown police are continuing to gather information in the hopes of finding the culprit in Saturday's assault.
""The detectives on the case are actively pursuing all the clues they have right now,"" Beavers said.
