Police investigating rape allegation

By Dan DuChene
Feb. 24, 2009    ·    3:11 p.m.

Ypsilanti police said they are still following up on a rape reported by an Eastern Michigan University student on Friday.

Craig Annas, a lieutenant at the Ypsilanti Police Department, said the initial interview with the 18-year-old victim, conducted on the telephone, brought about an admission that the encounter at an EMU fraternity house could have been consensual.

“She believes she gave consent,” Annas said Tuesday.

However, he said he hopes to speak with both the victim and suspect, a minor younger than 18 who was also only interviewed on the phone, some time today. He said there is a chance the victim could have felt pressured by herself or someone else to change the story. He said she could be afraid of following through on her complaint.

“That’s why you’ve got to do due diligence,” Annas said. “We really want to sit down and talk to her and get at the truth.”

St. Joseph Mercy Hospital contacted the department at approximately 1 a.m. Friday to report a sexual assault stemming from a party at the Kappa Omega Alpha house on Adams Street after the victim was treated.

Annas said she had been drinking at the party, and when interviewed she said her memory became more clear after the party.

Based on the complaint and initial interviews, Annas said the victim entered a bathroom at the party with three other males, none EMU students, to join in them in smoking marijuana.

He said two of the males eventually left the bathroom after some sort of romantic involvement, leaving the suspect and the victim alone with each other.

In the initial report to police, the victim alleged someone turned off the light after being in the room for some time. It was reported that she was pushed up against the wall, groped by several subjects and penetrated by at least one subject.

A search warrant was later executed at the fraternity house and 12 male subjects were detained and interviewed. All the subjects detained were eventually released and at this time it is believed that none were involved.

As for the three subjects in the room with her, they were all interviewed by police and none are EMU students. He said they were all less than 20 years old and one is a high school student and Ann Arbor resident.

Regardless of what turns up in the investigation, Annas said a report will be forwarded to the county prosecutor. He said there could still be a crime that could be charged, including the victim’s inability to provide consent if she was too intoxicated. However, he said the victim’s discretion would have to be severely hampered by drugs and alcohol.

See related article: EMU student reports rape at fraternity