Students more cautious after recent assault

Four or five unidentified males thought to be non-students assaulted three male students in the Safeway parking lot on Mission Avenue on Aug. 24 at about 1:40 a.m.

The students went to Safeway around 1:30 a.m. and were surprised to find it closed. As they were turning to leave, a white 1990s sedan pulled up, traveling slowly through the parking lot, and the occupants of the vehicle were looking out the windows.

"I just said, ‘Hey are you guys having a good night?'" one of the students involved said. "Then, they immediately jumped out of the car asking us what we said, ready for a fight."

According to the students the group tried to defuse the situation by saying they were going home and did not want to fight, but the altercation continued.

The student said that he was the first to get punched in the back of the head and was knocked unconscious soon after. His friends continued to defend themselves while he was being kicked on the ground.

The students managed to get away and call the Spokane Police Department and Campus Security. The suspects are said to be three or four black men and one white man.

John Van Sant, director of campus public safety and security, said that such incidences have a tendency to happen more often at this time of the year because of the warm weather. Crime tends to be elevated during the summer months, as well as the number of students partying in the neighborhood. Campus Security may expand Spokane Police Department coverage during this time from now on.

Van Sant said the group was not acting in an unsafe way. The men stayed together in well-lit areas and were in a public place.

"Was this a bad decision? I don't think so," Van Sant said. "They just ran into the wrong group at the wrong time. The only thing they could have done differently is not engaged in conversation."

The student agreed that he thought it was a "wrong place, wrong time" situation and that this did not make him scared to be out in the neighborhood at night.

"We all know we weren't doing anything stupid," the student said. "People just need to be aware because it definitely does happen. We're just lucky it wasn't worse."

This makes it even more important for students to make smart decisions out in the neighborhood at night.

Van Sant especially emphasizes the importance of drinking responsibly in order to keep students safe.

"The level of intoxication really blows me away sometimes," Van Sant said. "There was just a death at University of Idaho this summer and it just scares me. I don't know how to get the message across, but at least make sure to watch out for each other."

In addition to this advice, the Campus Security blog gave tips in response to the incident, reminding students to walk in groups in well-lit, busy routes while paying attention to the surroundings. Also, Saferide can be utilized from off-campus at 509-568-8000. There are security escorts for travel across campus that can be contacted through Campus Security at 509-313-2222, and this number can also be called to report suspicious activity and crimes. Students should call 911 in an emergency.