Police: U of M student sexually assaulted by suspect posing as cop

A University of Minnesota student who thought she was being offered a ride by a uniformed officer said she was instead sexually assaulted by him early Sunday morning, campus police said.

The victim was walking alone at about 2:15 a.m. near the intersection of 15th Avenue SE and 8th Street SE when the suspect, driving a black SUV, slowed to talk to her. He told her he was police officer, warned her about walking alone and offered her a ride. When she agreed and got in the SUV, he locked the doors, she said he drove to a remote location west of I-35W and sexually assaulted her, police said.

She described her assailant to police as a black male between the ages of 23 and 27 years old with a medium build, short hair or a shaved head, and a neatly trimmed chin-strap style beard. He was wearing a dark jacket with a badge on it, dark pants, and a security or police style duty belt. The vehicle is a dark SUV with dark interior, and a computer screen in the center console.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Minneapolis Police Tip Line at 612-692-8477.

Map shows approximate location of where police say the student got into the SUV.