Campus safety update: new charges brought against abduction suspect
The following is a message from Interim Vice Chancellor Lori Berquam, Housing Director Jeff Novak and Police Chief Kristen Roman:
We know many people in our campus community were concerned by an attempted abduction that occurred on Observatory Drive on Oct. 2. Additional charges related to another incident on campus have now been brought against the man arrested, Coleman Chung, who is currently being held in jail.
As part of its investigation into the Oct. 2 incident, the UW–Madison Police Department discovered evidence indicating that Chung had sexually assaulted a female student several days before in a public space inside Gordon Dining & Event Center. Chung, who is not affiliated with UW–Madison, has now been charged with four counts of second-degree sexual assault. He remains in jail on a federal probation hold.
The student was unconscious at the time of the assault. UWPD investigators worked diligently to identify and contact the victim.
We are deeply troubled by this incident and are grateful to UWPD for ensuring that this suspect no longer poses a threat to our community. The university has responded by providing support and resources to the survivor. We have also made building staff aware of this incident. Staff are in the building at all times during operating hours and UWPD does regular rounds of this and other campus buildings. Gordon also has security cameras which provided footage that was key evidence in this additional incident.
UW-Madison prohibits sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking. These crimes will not be tolerated on campus and are a violation of Wisconsin law.
Our university is committed to preventing sexual assault and supporting survivors with a wide range of services, including mental health counseling, victim advocacy, referrals for off-campus legal assistance, and access to the criminal and campus disciplinary systems.
Sexual assault is never the fault of the victim. While nothing is failsafe, here are some suggestions everyone should consider:
- Be active in supporting a safe and respectful community. If you see others engaging in disrespectful, inappropriate, or illegal actions, speak up and get involved, or contact someone else to assist.
- Be aware that some perpetrators target people by using alcohol to incapacitate them.
- If you witness something that doesn’t feel right, you can help by getting involved. Check-in and ask, “Hey, do you know this person?” or, “Are you OK?”
Please visit uwpd.wisc.edu/tellus and uhs.wisc.edu/victim-advocacy/ for more information about preventing sexual violence.
Accommodations and services are available to victims regardless of their choice to report the incident. Students can report to UW–Madison by contacting the Title IX Coordinator, The Dean of Students Office, and, for those who wish to also report to law enforcement, by contacting UWPD.
Lori Berquam, interim vice chancellor for student affairs and dean of students
Jeff Novak, director of University Housing
Kristen Roman, chief, University of Wisconsin Police Department