Crime alert: two students punched near campus

This message was emailed to students, faculty and staff on Oct. 15 by Communications and External Relations:

Two male students, in separate incidents, reported early Saturday morning (Oct. 15) being punched in the face or head by unidentified men near the Polo Road entrance to campus.

No serious injuries were reported.  Both incidents were off campus.  The Winston-Salem Police Department is investigating, with assistance from the University Police Department.

In the first incident, which occurred around 12:30 a.m. Saturday at the Polo Road/Long Drive intersection, an unidentified man punched a male student in the face.  The student, accompanied by another male student, had been preparing to cross Polo Road and walk onto campus when three unidentified men walked up to them on Polo Road.  One of the three unidentified men used his fist to strike the student in the face.  Afterward, the students walked onto campus and later told University Police.

In the second incident, which occurred around 12:45 a.m., a male student accompanied by a female friend (non-Wake Forest student) was punched in the back of the head by one of three unidentified men they came across on Long Drive, near University Drive.  The student and his friend walked onto campus and told University Police.

The two incidents occurred about one block apart.

The student in the first incident was checked by a student emergency technician.  The second student who was struck declined any medical attention.

The Winston-Salem and University police departments increased their patrols of the area after the reported assaults, while looking for the suspects. At the time of this campus message, no suspects had been located and identified.

Authorities ask that anyone with information regarding these incidents contact the Winston-Salem Police Department at 336-773-7700 or CrimeStoppers at 336-727-2800.

Wake Forest Office of Communications and External Relations

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