Man arrested following campus-area attack

July 23, 2012

by Käri Knutson

A man has been arrested after an early Saturday morning attack of a 21-year-old woman in the 500 block of North Lake Street.

Oscar M. Aguilar-Ruvalcaba, 21, of Madison, was arrested for second degree reckless endangerment, false imprisonment, use of a dangerous weapon, intimidation of victim and disorderly conduct.

According to the Madison Police Department, the woman was attacked around 4:10 a.m. Saturday when a sharp object was held to her neck and she was led to the Memorial Union Terrace. She was able to break free and summon help.

 MPD officers, working with UW-Madison Police officers, established a perimeter. The suspect was spotted and ran. Officers later tracked Aguilar-Ruvalcaba down behind homes in the 400 block of West Mifflin Street. A knife was found in the area.

Consider the following personal safety information:

  • Watch out for your friends and neighbors, and take care of one another. Make sure everyone gets home safely.
  • Always walk with a group of friends, especially at night, and carry a cell phone.
  • If you intend to drink, do so in moderation so as not to put yourself in a position of increased risk.
  • Always maintain situational awareness – know where you are and the environment you are in.  
  • Trust your senses. If your surroundings feel unsafe, attempt to avoid them. Locate other pedestrians nearby or move out of the area.
  •  Report any crime or suspicion of a crime immediately, starting with your location. If police are contacted within the first five minutes, they have a better chance of finding a suspect.