Police say the sexual assault happened a little before 3:30 a.m. Sunday morning on Hudson Avenue, just a block off of Lark Street in Albany.
Police say a 20-year-old UAlbany student tells them she was walking home from getting some pizza at Soho Pizzeria on Lark Street to her apartment on Hudson Avenue when the suspect followed her, pushed her inside and then sexually assaulted her.
"She walked into the vestibule, at that point he started to choke her, shut the door and then sexually assaulted her," said Detective James Miller with the Albany Public Safety Department.
Miller says that the suspect then asked the victim for money. As he went through her wallet she was able to get away and flag down some men nearby. Those witnesses saw the suspect run toward Washington Park and called police.
"She had some abrasions, some red marks around her neck from where he choked her," said Miller.
"That's not supposed to happen," said Maude Baum, from Albany.
Baum has lived and worked in the Lark Street area since the 1970's and is part of a neighborhood effort to make this a safe place.
"We have neighborhood walks on this street and that's usually the time we are out walking," she said. "I'm just appalled by it, appalled. We have young women who come to eba for dance lessons every night and they leave and I want them to feel safe."
Other local college students are uncomfortable with the news. They are vowing to be more vigilant.
"It's not fair people are in the area to learn," said Eddie Hitti, an Albany Law student.
"You never really know who's out there. You never really know who's walking behind you too, if you're not paying attention," said Katherine Simao, a St. Rose student.
"Definitely makes you think twice before you do anything, walk by yourself or anything," said Hitti.
Police are reminding people to walk in groups or take a cab, even if the walk isn't far.
"When you get on some of the side streets they aren't as well lit as Lark Street," said Miller. "There's always strength in numbers."
"We take a lot of things for granted but one of the things we should be able to take for granted is that we are safe," said Baum.
Police say the suspect description they are working with is a black male, about 35 years old who is 6'1" and 200 pounds with shoulder length dreadlocks.
If you have information you are asked to call police.
A UAlbany spokesperson says that the university is working with the Albany Police in this investigation. And that the university's first priority is the welfare of this student and offering her the full resources available.
