Arrest made in reported sexual assault

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University police on Sunday (Feb. 12) arrested a man in connection with a sexual assault that reportedly occurred in the early morning hours Sunday in the 1200 block of First Street.

Donald G. Ward, 19, a sophomore in the College of Engineering of Madison, Indiana, was taken to Tippecanoe County Jail at 11:33 p.m. and faces a preliminary charge of rape, which is a level 3 felony punishable by 3-16 years in prison and a maximum fine of $10,000. According to police, Ward and the victim were acquaintances.

The incident was reported to Purdue police at 3:41 p.m. Sunday.

The fact a person has been arrested or charged with a crime is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.

Crime prevention and awareness, as well as consistent reporting, may be the strongest defenses against becoming the victim of an assault. While becoming a victim of crime is never the fault of the victim, the following list of practices may help safeguard individuals from becoming victims of assault: Please report all suspicious activity and utilize the SAFE Walk program for walking escorts. Be mindful of the emergency telephone system (ETS) locations on campus and choose well-lit walking paths through campus. Please refer to the Annual Security Report (http://www.purdue.edu/ehps/police/reports/index.html) for up to date crime statistics, security policies and programming.