2 Women Attacked Near WMU

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - Police in Kalamazoo are investigating two separate sexual assaults that happened earlier this month.

The attacks occurred just a few hundred feet apart from each other on a stretch of West Michigan Avenue in the same week.

"It's scary, I would never want to walk these streets in the dark by myself at night," said Sarah Pettinga, a WMU student who lives nearby.

"Nobody wants to be approached by a group of males when they're walking home from a bar," said Pettinga.

After hearing about the two women assaulted, Pettinga is on high alert. "I make sure my cell is charged, I try not to walk home from the bar and if I do I make sure I'm in a group of my friends," said Pettinga.

She's doing just what police suggest, since both assaults happened late at night when a woman was walking home alone in a dark area.

In both cases the victims say they were approached by a group of guys and that one of the men assaulted them while the others watched.

"Within a stone's throw of where you sleep at night, that's kind of surprising, kind of shocking," said David Eldred of Kalamazoo.

Eldred lives on Lancaster. He says he never considered his neighborhood dangerous.

"It's probably easy to have a different perspective as a male," said Eldred.

"It's rare that I'm by myself," said Abigail Ofori-Amoah of Kalamazoo.

Abigail says no matter where she's walking she's sure to pay attention to her surroundings. "It can happen anytime, you never know when it's gonna hit so it's good to be with at least one other person," said Abigail.

Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety officials want women in the area to be aware of what's happened in the past few weeks and to know that even if they do find their suspects you should never let your guard down late at night.

"Walk in a group, never alone, walk in well lit areas, if you do use a car make sure you have the keys ready before you get into your car and check inside before you get into it," said Sgt. Julie Yunker.

Police are not sure if it was the same suspect in both cases but they say the victims' descriptions are similar. He's a 20-year-old white man, about 5'11" and weighs 160lbs. He has short dark hair, no facial hair and was wearing dark clothing.

If you have any information call police or Silent Observer.