On Feb. 7, an employee of the University of Redlands was attacked by two men as they walked towards the administration building, next to Hall of Letters. According to a university safety alert from the Chief of Public Safety, Jeff Talbott, the crime was motivated by a perception of the employee’s sexual orientation. At the employee’s request, Public Safety sought the assistance of the Redlands Police Department, which is investigating the incident as a hate crime.
The Redlands Bulldog has reached out to the Redlands PD Public Information Officer and Public Safety Office, and will provide updates on the investigation as soon as possible.
According to the alert, the unidentified men began following the employee and initiated a verbal confrontation. The men used “profanity and derogatory language about perceived sexual orientation” before one of them struck the employee in the neck.
The perpetrators were described as two “Hispanic males, late teens to mid-twenties in age, approximately 5’6” in height, and 140-160 pounds.”
After the employee created physical distance, the individuals continued to harass them verbally.
The offenders were seen on a surveillance tape as they left campus, walking past Duke Hall towards University St.
According to the California Penal Code, a battery is “any willful and unlawful use of force or violence upon the person of another.”
Since the alert did not say otherwise, the employee is assumed to not have required medical care. The Bulldog is confirming this with P-Safe.
Upon hearing from the employee, Public Safety began searching for the suspects but could not locate them. Officers encountered a group of children who reported that two men matching the culprits’ descriptions had confronted them earlier. According to Public Safety, one of the children reported that one of the men had physically challenged them, causing them to flee.
The employee is confident that the individuals responsible are not members of the university community.
If you feel unsafe, or observe suspicious behavior on campus, contact Public Safety at 909-748-8888 or ext. 8888 from any campus phone. In an emergency, call 9-1-1 for immediate assistance. With fewer students and employees on campus than typical, walking through campus with company is a useful precaution.
