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BYU police arrest student who allegedly groped six women

After one woman was assaulted Saturday, there were five separate attacks on Sunday, police say.

(Photo courtesy of BYU police) This photo from surveillance video shows a man suspected of groping three women on the BYU campus Sunday.

  | March 29, 2021, 2:50 p.m.
| Updated: March 30, 2021, 1:54 p.m.

A man who allegedly groped six women on or near the Brigham Young University campus on Saturday and Sunday has been arrested, university police said.

The 26-year-old suspect, who is a BYU student, admitted to the gropings, according to police.

According to a probable cause statement, the first assault occurred Saturday at about 2:01 p.m. when a man walked up behind a woman who was jogging on Cougar Boulevard across from the Tanner Building parking terrace and grabbed her from behind on her buttocks.

On Sunday at about 12:21, a man grabbed a woman from behind outside Helaman Halls near the Cannon Center. At 1:05 p.m., a man grabbed the buttocks of another woman near Taylor Hall at Helaman Halls. Another woman reported that at about 2:26 p.m. on Sunday, a man came up behind her, reached around her and tickled her as she was walking south of the Life Sciences Building.

On Monday, another woman — after hearing the reports of the attacks — contacted police and said that on Sunday at about 2 p.m., she was on the corner of 700 East and 800 North when she was grabbed from behind on her buttocks. The man “said he tripped and was falling” when he grabbed her.

A sixth victim came forward Monday evening to report that she, too, was groped on Sunday afternoon. According to Provo police Sgt. Nisha King, the victim said she was assaulted just outside BYU’s campus. Provo police believe the same suspect was involved.

According to police, they found the suspect on BYU security video at several locations, and saw him entering a car. They tracked the suspect through the car’s license plate and went to his home. The suspect “waived his rights” and “admitted to grabbing women on campus” on Saturday and Sunday.

Pending formal charges, he was booked into the Utah County jail for investigation of multiple counts of sexual battery.

(Photo courtesy of BYU police) This photo from surveillance video shows a man suspected of groping three women on the BYU campus Sunday.

BYU Police Chief Matthew Andrus encouraged students to travel with a companion when possible and encouraged survivors of sexual misconduct to go to advocates.byu.edu to seek help.