The Rock Island Police Department has ended its investigation of a sexual assault reported by an Augustana College student.
Police reports say, early on November 23rd, an officer was called to Erickson Residence Hall about a possible sexual assault. A detective was called in, and at the hospital, the victim told him that she'd been drinking heavily before going to a house party, in the 4200 block of 7th Avenue. The report says the woman started looking for a friend, and three young men told her the person was in the basement. She went downstairs with them.
Details about what happened in the basement have been redacted. But the woman told the detective she blacked out, and next remembered walking outside the house. A passerby helped her return to campus, where she told another friend she thought she'd been sexually assaulted.
Rock Island police reports describe the investigation, including collection of evidence such as clothing, items from the house and a rape kit, along with results of questioning potential witnesses and suspects. Two of the men questioned retained lawyers and declined to give statements to the police.
The final report says the student couldn't remember very much about that night because she was so drunk. She was not able to identify any suspects and told the detective she did not want to file charges. The case was officially closed on December 5th.
