In a news release Thursday the City of Athens asked residents to continue to submit tips and be patient with the ongoing investigation.
The Athens Police Department has received more than 75 tips in its investigation of three cases of sexual assault that were perpetrated by the same offender as of Thursday morning, according to a City of Athens news release.
APD announced in a press conference Jan. 28 that DNA evidence had linked three separate sexual assaults Uptown.
In the release, the city asked residents to continue to submit tips and be patient with the ongoing investigation, as only limited information can be released to protect the integrity of the investigation.
APD received results from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation that linked a Dec. 12 sexual assault to two others, one in June 2015 and the other in June 2006, according to a previous Post report.
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APD is looking for a white male in his late 20s to early 30s, 5-foot-8 to 5-foot-9 inches tall and weighing approximately 160 lbs.
“The investigation into the case and the related cases, is ongoing and we are confident we will capture and bring to justice this serial offender,” Athens Chief of Police Tom Pyle said in the release.
The city also urged the community to refrain from posting tips and accusations on social media, but rather report directly to APD, according to the news release.
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“Misinformation can be harmful to the investigation, slander innocent people and potentially harm the victims further,” the news release read.
Since the press conference, APD and the Ohio University Police Department have increased foot patrol presence in the uptown area and other locations of concern, according to the news release. The city encourages everyone, especially students, to stay alert and be upstanding and active bystanders.
Pyle said the only major change on the case in the past week is that Deputy Service Safety Director Ron Lucas is now serving as the case’s public information officer.
“I want to create attention to this issue without creating panic,” Pyle said. “So if you told me that people were concerned and were watching out for one another, I’d actually be happy about that. That’s the appropriate response at this point.”
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