A man woke up Thursday in People’s Park in Berkeley to discover that he had been sodomized, authorities reported Friday morning.
The University of California Police Department received notification about the rape from Alta Bates Hospital, where the man had sought treatment.
The 30-year-old man told medical staff Thursday that the assault had happened sometime during the prior night while he was sleeping.
He said he woke up and discovered “indications” he had been raped. No further information was provided.
The park is located at 2556 Haste St. in Berkeley’s Southside neighborhood, just east of Telegraph Avenue between Haste and Dwight Way, but falls under the jurisdiction of the university’s police department.
According to UCPD, nurses are mandatory reporters, meaning they must alert law enforcement about certain types of crimes.
“UCPD is in turn required to alert our community of the crime,” according to the prepared statement.
According to UCPD, 80% of sexual assaults and rapes are perpetrated by someone known to the survivor. On college campuses, 90% of survivors know their attacker. (Police said the man who was raped in the park was not affiliated with the university.)
“Sexual assault can happen to people in all contexts, including marriage, dating relationships, friendships, child-parent interactions, employer-attendant relationships and stranger interactions,” UCPD wrote.
UCPD listed the following resources for survivors of sexual assault:
- Bay Area Women Against Rape (BAWAR) 24-hour hotline: 510-845-RAPE (7273)
- The Survivor Support Website
- For students, the Tang Center Counseling and Psychological Services: 510-642-9494
Police ask anyone with information about this incident to call UCPD’s Criminal Investigation Bureau at 510-642-6760. Connect with UCPD on Twitter and Facebook.
Related:
Man charged with ‘rape by use of drugs’ in Berkeley (05.22.15)
Berkeley neighbors take on ‘noisy and drunken parties’ (05.05.15)
Berkeley man charged with rape of sleeping woman (04.10.15)
UC Berkeley student charged after alleged sexual assault on fraternity brother (02.19.15)
UC Berkeley student exonerated of rape charge (10.17.14)
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