A composite sketch and new video footage of the possible UF assault suspect were released Tuesday by University and Gainesville Police.
The footage shows the suspect walking east behind the Stadium Club parking garage. In the video, the suspect picks up an orange traffic cone and throws it into oncoming traffic. The cone appears to hit a white car, and officers are hoping to speak with the vehicle’s driver.
Afterward, the suspect turns north onto Northwest 18th Street. Although other people in the video are running to get out of the rain, the man continues walking at the same pace.
A drawing of the suspect was formed with the help of residents near the 2000 block of Southwest 16th Street, where the first attack occurred on Aug. 30. This information matched the description given by victims and witnesses, according to a press release. Officials are not entirely sure if the subject in the drawing is the same as the one in the video, but they are hoping to identify the individual.
Witnesses said they were approached by a man on the night of the first attack who was acting strange and asked them for directions.
When the suspect attacked the first victim a few blocks north of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, police said he dragged her into the bushes, beat her and then fled the scene after attempting to sexually assault her.
On Aug. 31, just hours after the first assault, another female was attacked off of 13th Street and Inner Road.
And on Sept. 7, a woman reported being attacked on campus near McCarty Hall. After the victim punched the suspect, he fled on foot. The suspect was not located.
In all three cases, police said the suspect grabbed the victims from behind, and all the victims fought him off. He is described as a white male, at least 6 feet tall, with a large build.
In the videos released, he is seen wearing orange shorts, a dark blue shirt, a baseball cap and tennis shoes.
[A version of this story ran on page 1 on 9/24/2014]
