Portland — A woman was reportedly fondled inside the Portland Community College Sylvania Campus library on Thursday morning, according to college officials. PCC says staff and bystanders told the man to stop before he walked away from the area.
According to FOX 12, the incident happened at about 10:30 a.m., when a man touched the woman's lower back and pulled at her clothing even after being told multiple times to stop. FOX 12 reports the man left the scene and has not been found. PCC described him as a white man with long dark hair and a beard, wearing a red sweater and small-framed glasses with one broken lens. That description does not match the suspect tied to a separate series of incidents near PCC’s Portland campus; FOX 12 notes that a different suspect in those cases was arrested and booked into the Multnomah County Jail on Feb. 19.
PCC's safety notices and response
Portland Community College's Public Safety office maintains emergency contacts and timely warnings for each campus. Its site lists 971-722-4444 (or 911) for emergencies and 971-722-4902 for non-emergencies. According to PCC Public Safety, the college has issued multiple timely warnings this month and urges students and staff to sign up for PCC Alerts. Public Safety says it coordinates with local law enforcement when incidents are reported and provides services such as safety escorts and building access controls.
What to do if you or someone you know was touched
If you were touched or otherwise assaulted, officials and advocates say your first priority is to get to a safe place and contact emergency responders or campus Public Safety. RAINN recommends preserving potential evidence when possible by avoiding showering or changing clothes, and seeking prompt medical attention. A Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner can perform a forensic exam even if you do not immediately choose to report to police. For confidential support, RAINN's National Sexual Assault Hotline is 1-800-656-4673, and its online resources walk survivors through options for care and reporting.
College officials say the incident remains under investigation and are asking anyone with information to contact PCC Public Safety or local law enforcement. The college is urging the campus community to stay alert and to report suspicious behavior through its non-emergency line, or use the emergency number if someone appears to be in immediate danger.
