A University of Minnesota student was molested Friday evening in the same area of Prospect Park where three others had reported being groped in February.

 

The victim was walking near the intersection of Huron Boulevard and Essex Street Southeast at about 5:30 p.m. Friday when a man walked up behind her and groped her, according to a crime alert sent by University police Chief Greg Hestness on Monday.

 

The victim told police she believed the suspect had followed her for several blocks and approached her as she reached her apartment building. 

 

The suspect fled across Huron Boulevard and ran west on Fulton Street Southeast, the alert said.

 

Hestness sent an alert on Feb. 16 that reported three groping incidents within two hours.

 

The suspect was reported to have molested the victims, two of whom were confirmed University students, within a few blocks of Friday’s incident.

 

University and Minneapolis police searched the area and were unable to locate the suspect in Friday’s incident. Officials are asking anyone with information to call the Minneapolis police tip line at 612-692-8477.