The student says he was grabbed by a man who tried to rob him Wednesday night
PRINCETON -- Police are searching for a man who grabbed a Princeton University graduate student in a bear hug and tried to rob him Wednesday night, according to a statement from the university.
A Princeton University Department of Public Safety vehicle is parked on campus in this file photo. Blair Hall is in background at left. The graduate student told Princeton Public Safety officers that he was walking south on Alexander Street, leaving the Dinky train station around 11:15 p.m. when a man grabbed him from behind.
The attacker started feeling around the student's body, looking for a phone, the student told officers.
The student broke free and hit the man in the face, the statement said. The suspect ran from the scene back toward the Dinky train station.
Public Safety officers searched for the man but did not locate him.
He was described as around 5-feet, 9-inches tall with a dark complexion and short hair. The man was wearing a black shirt and dark pants, the statement said.
The university has had a number of public safety incidents since the spring.
In April, the university police said they were investigating two incidents of a man seen peering into residence hall windows.
In May, a university student was awakened by a man tampering with her dorm window
And late last month, a man walking near the campus reported being offered a ride by a driver who exposed himself during the encounter.
The university asked anyone with information about the incident to call the Public Safety Department at 609-258-1000.
Anna Merriman may be reached at amerriman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @anna_merriman