'That's never happened.' Two abduction attempts reported on IU campus

Police are investigating two separate overnight abduction attempts reported near the Indiana University athletics complex during Little 500 weekend.

According to IU's emergency alert system, the first incident was reported around 12:10 a.m. Sunday near Bart Kaufman Field and Gate 11 of Memorial Stadium.

A 20-year-old female student told police that a man who was approximately 6 feet tall with an average build tried to force her into his vehicle while she was walking along a side path of the Ind. 45/46 Bypass. The suspect was wearing a dark gray T-shirt and dark pants.

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Police said the vehicle, a newer model black Toyota sedan, pulled behind her and the suspect asked her if she needed help. That’s when he attempted to grab her.

The woman escaped by rolling into a ditch, police said. She suffered a minor injury.

The suspect vehicle was last seen going eastbound on the bypass.

The second abduction attempt happened around 1 a.m. Sunday near Gate 7 of Memorial Stadium. A 19-year-old female student told police she was walking along Dunn Street when an older model black Jeep Cherokee pulled up to her.

One of the occupants asked the woman if she needed a ride, police said. When she said no, one of the suspects got out of the car and hit her in the face.

The woman, who was knocked to the ground and lost a tooth during the attack, managed to escape, police said.

Police say the suspects were three men in their 20s. One of the suspects had dark hair and was wearing a purple professional sports jersey.

IUPD spokesperson Lt. Craig Munroe said Sunday he hasn't seen anything like this in his 35 years in Bloomington.

"For a stranger to try to abduct somebody, especially two times within a half an hour, that's totally new to me," he said. "That's never happened."

It's still unclear if the two incidents are connected, he said. The crimes remain under investigation, and Munroe said police did not have any leads on the suspects as of Sunday evening.

When asked if the Little 500 had something to do with the incident, Munroe said police often see visitors to Bloomington "misbehave" during the weekend, well-known for partying.

"There was a lot of activity on that part of campus," Munroe said. "I would say that the festivities were a part of this."

Call IndyStar reporter Justin L. Mack at (317) 444-6138. Follow him on Twitter: @justinlmack.

Emma Kate Fittes contributed to this report.