Safety Alert: Man Reported Groping Students Near St. Thomas

ST. PAUL, Minn. (WCCO) – Officials at the University of St. Thomas say there've been several recent reports of gropings near the campus of that school and others in the area.

A St. Thomas public safety report issued Wednesday says that gropings were first reported last week near Macalester College and St. Catherine University. The earliest reports to police came on Feb. 2 and Feb. 3. Two other incidents occurred this week, on Monday and Tuesday.

St. Paul police are investigating all of them.

The Monday incident happened near St. Thomas. The school's public safety officials say it occurred in the afternoon as a female student was walking along Cleveland Avenue.

She reported that a suspect approached her and made unwanted advances. As she walked by Signal Care Auto Garage, the suspect told her he was going to grab her behind.

That's when the student got help from the auto garage employees, who then called police. The suspect continued north along Cleveland before turning around and running south.

The suspect is described as standing between 6-feet and 6-feet, 4-inches tall and having a thin build.

He has been seen wearing a black sweatshirt and a black stocking cap in one incident and a thick gray jacket and tan pants in another, public safety officials said.

Anyone with information on the suspect is asked to call St. Paul police at 651 291-1111.