Woman raped near UCI, police confirm

The Irvine Police Department confirmed Friday that a woman was raped in her apartment near UC Irvine by an intruder July 8.

Earlier on Friday, UCI police sent out a campuswide alert reporting that a sexual assault had occurred at an apartment near campus. Campus police issued the alert because the apartment complex is less than a mile from campus and is known for housing students.

The rape occurred shortly after midnight, said Lt. John Hare, a public information officer with Irvine Police. The victim was approached by an unarmed male intruder as she exited the shower, where the suspect ordered her to have sex with him, in order to avoid harm, Hare said in an e-mail.

The 24-year-old victim obeyed the intruder’s orders, and called the authorities later that day about 2 p.m. Hare declined to say whether the victim was a UCI student.

The victim, who lives in the 100 block of Amherst Aisle, believed that the suspect entered her apartment through the front door, which was unlocked. The Irvine Police reports that the intruder fled by foot. The alleged assailant is described as a 6-foot tall, possibly blue-eyed, Caucasian.

Anyone with any information should contact Irvine Police Det. Hurtado at (949) 724-7194.

— Joanna Clay