DETROIT – A Wayne State University student was physically assaulted on Saturday night by a man who asked to use her bathroom, police said.
The student told police that at about 11 p.m. on Saturday, July 19, 2025, she let an “unknown male” into her residence at the Anthony Wayne Drive Apartments to use the restroom.
Once they were inside, the suspect allegedly lured the student into the bathroom and tried to close the door.
The suspect then “implied he had a knife and threatened to sexually assault her,” according to the Wayne State University Police Department.
There was a brief struggle, and the suspect allegedly physically assaulted the victim.
Police say the student was eventually able to de-escalate and convince the suspect to leave her apartment.
The suspect was last seen walking eastbound on West Warren Avenue.
Police described the suspect as the following:
- Age: Approximately 20–30 years old
- Height: 5′5″ to 5′6″
- Build: Husky (approximately 220 lbs)
- Hair: Short (1″ to 1.5″ in length)
- Eyewear: Black rectangular or square eyeglasses with a white stripe on the inside
- Clothing: Light blue shirt with black print on the front. Unknown color pants, but described as heavy material.
- Accessories: Carrying a black backpack
- Additional Information: Suspect had a strong body odor (described as sweaty)
- Aliases/Names Provided: “Joshua” and “Clarence Jose”
Police also shared the following prevention tips:
- Do not allow unknown individuals into secured residence halls or apartments.
- Call WSU Police immediately at 313-577-2222 if you feel unsafe or see suspicious behavior (24/7).
- Trust your instincts. If something feels wrong, seek help immediately.
- Use the Wayne State Safe Walk service when walking alone. Simply call WSUPD at 313-577-2222 (you should store this number in your cell phone) and request a Safe Walk. If we have a uniformed and radio equipped cadet available, the cadet will go to caller’s location and walk with the caller to their destination. If no cadet is available, then a uniformed officer in a marked scout car will be dispatched to handle the request.