The Grand Valley State University Police Department received a report of an assault on a female student that occurred on the night of Tuesday, Nov. 16 at 11:30 PM. The student was crossing the Little Mac Bridge to return to her on-campus housing unit when she said an unknown male emerged from the bushes near the bridge and grabbed her. The assailant held her against her will and attempted to remove her clothes. The student told police she kicked the assailant in the groin and managed to escape his hold. She then ran to the North campus housing units and reported that the assailant did not pursue her.

There are no known witnesses to the incident. Anyone with information that may be helpful to police is asked to call the Department of Public Safety at 616-331-3255 or leave information using the Silent Observer hotline at 1-877-88-SILENT.

A different female student who reported she was the victim of another assault near the Little Mac Bridge on Nov. 6 has since recanted and told police she lied about the incident. The student had previously reported to police that an unknown male grabbed her arm and assaulted her when she tried to cross the bridge. She had claimed a male student on a bicycle intervened, causing the assailant to flee the area.

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