CCBC Student Kidnapped, Sexually Assaulted

A Rosedale man was arrested and charged with kidnapping and sexually assaulting a student at CCBC Essex Thursday.

According to police reports, the 30-year-old man kidnapped a 27-year-old woman at gunpoint at about 7:40 p.m. Thursday, as she walked to her car following class.

The man allegedly forced the woman, his ex-girlfriend, to drive to his Rosedale home, where he sexually assaulted her, according to Baltimore County police spokeswoman Det. Cathy Batton.

Patch has decided not to identify the suspect in order to preserve the victim's privacy.

“This was not a random attack,” Batton said. “The suspect targeted the victim as they knew each other from a prior relationship.”

Batton said the suspect held the victim captive at gunpoint for several hours before forcing her drive him back to campus so he could retrieve his vehicle. The victim then contacted police.

The suspect is being held without bail at the Baltimore County Detention Center. He was charged with first-degree sex offense, kidnapping, first-degree assault, using a handgun in the commission of a felony and false imprisonment.

CCBC spokeswoman Hope Davis said the college became aware of the incident on Tuesday. Davis said that the campus is safe, despite this incident.

Campus parking lots feature blue emergency lights, as well as a service that offers students escorts while walking to their cars. The college also frequently assesses campus lighting and campus patrols, Davis said.

CCBC employs 66 people who work in public safety across all campuses—Essex, Catonsville and Dundalk. Officials are working to certify all of their full-time public safety officers through an eight-week police academy program.

Currently, there are 18 certified officers and five non-certified officers. The college also employs 40 people who work in the department part-time. Officers work eight-hour shifts and patrol the campuses on a 24-hour basis.

Davis and Batton both stressed there are certain steps all students can take to reduce on-campus risks: Students should not walk alone to their cars at night, should pay attention to their surroundings and take advantage of the security options on campus, especially the escort service, Davis said.

“This incident is very disturbing and something we take very seriously as a college,” Davis said.