{ "id": "2025-02-28-university-of-tennessee-at-chattanooga-west-campus-pepper-spray", "slug": "university-of-tennessee-at-chattanooga-west-campus-pepper-spray-2025-02-28", "institution": { "name": "University of Tennessee at Chattanooga", "shortName": "UTC", "state": "TN", "type": "public-r2", "alertSystemName": "UTC-Alert", "enrollment": 11400 }, "incident": { "date": "2025-02-28", "type": "assault", "cleryCategory": "timely-warning", "resolution": "under-investigation", "headline": "Unknown man entered an apartment and used pepper spray", "headlinePublic": "Unknown man entered an apartment and used pepper spray", "summary": "A delayed [report](https://www.utc.edu/finance-and-administration/department-of-public-safety/alerts-status) said an unknown man entered an open apartment at about 2 a.m. and used pepper spray. Police also called it an aggravated burglary.", "outcome": "The crime was under investigation. Potential suspects had been identified." }, "alerts": [ { "sequence": 1, "type": "initial", "timestamp": "2025-03-03T10:00:00-05:00", "channel": "website", "verbatimText": "This is a Timely Warning regarding a crime that was reported to have occurred on University-owned, controlled, or adjacent property.\n\nOn Friday, February 28, 2025, at approximately 3:30 PM, the UTC Police Department received a delayed report of a Simple Assault and Aggravated Burglary. The victim, a UTC student, reported that on February 28, 2025, at approximately 2:00 AM, she was in her apartment at West Campus Housing when an unknown suspect entered the open apartment door. The victim stated that the suspect, described as a white male wearing a camouflage hat, then sprayed her with Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) Spray (commonly known as \"Pepper Spray\" ) and quickly left the apartment.\n\nThis crime is actively under investigation by the UTC Police Department, who have identified potential suspects. If you have any information about this incident, please call the UTC Police Department at (423) 425-HELP/4357.\n\nAbout UTC-ALERT: Timely Warnings\n\nTimely Warnings are issued by the UTC Department of Public Safety in compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (20 U.S. Code § 1092; 34 CFR 668.46e). The University takes its duty to protect the community seriously. Informing the UTC community regarding reported crimes allows community members to be situationally aware, make educated decisions about their personal safety, and be reminded of how to access University and community resources.\n\nSafety Tips:\n\nBurglary\n\nEnsure that all residential doors and windows are closed and locked.\n\nDo not prop open doors.\n\nWhen entering or exiting a residence hall or other locked building, make sure the door closes behind you.\n\nDo not allow unauthorized persons into locked buildings.\n\nReport inoperable locks to Facilities, Planning, and Management (FPM) or the Department of Housing & Residence Life, Housing Facilities.\n\nGeneral\n\nBe alert and aware of your surroundings.\n\nFollow your instincts. Safety is the priority.\n\nIf you feel you are in danger, take action. Move away from the threat, cross the street, increase your pace, or run to safety.\n\nReport all suspicious activity (persons, vehicles, and activities), even if you are not directly threatened, to the UTC Police Department at (423) 425-HELP/4357.\n\nIf you or someone you know is a victim of a crime, we encourage you to report the incident as soon as possible. This allows for appropriate measures to be taken for your safety and the safety of others.\n\nReporting & Resources:\n\nReport a crime on-campus\n\nFrom any cellular or off-campus telephone, call (423) 425-HELP/4357.\n\nFrom any on-campus telephone, dial 911.\n\nPress the \"HELP\" button at any Blue Light Call Box or Emergency Call Box.\n\nReport a crime off-campus\n\nFrom any telephone, dial 911.\n\nUTC Resources\n\nUTCares: (423) 425-CARE/2273.\n\nCounseling Center: (423) 425-4438.\n\nOffice of the Dean of Students: (423) 425-4761\n\nOffice of Student Outreach & Support: (423) 425-2299.\n\nSurvivor Advocacy Services: (423) 425-5648.\n\nOffice of Title IX Compliance / Title IX Coordinator: (423) 425-4255.\n\nChattanooga / Hamilton County Resources\n\nChattanooga Police Department - Victim Services: (423) 643-5351.\n\nDistrict Attorney’s Office for the 11th Judicial District - Victim/Witness Coordinator: (423) 209-7400.\n\nPartnership for Families, Children, and Adults - Rape Crisis Center: (423) 755-2700.\n\nMessage issued on 3/3/2025 at 10:00 AM", "isVerbatimConfirmed": true, "confidence": "high", "sourceUrl": "https://www.utc.edu/finance-and-administration/department-of-public-safety/alerts-status", "sourceDescription": "UTC-ALERT status archive", "annotations": [ "Dual fetch of the alerts-status page on 2026-10-12. After scripts and Cloudflare email hashes are removed, both copies of this message match.", "The issued line gives the minute. Seconds are not in that line.", "3394 characters. sha256 9817c88a9ac5ec69cb706132e89edd461ca614ceeffb55a166747b6c092e0603.", "The warning covers both a simple assault and an aggravated burglary. The case type records the assault.", "SPN not attempted at 10:15Z" ], "characterCount": 3394 } ], "context": "One timely warning on the UTC-ALERT status archive, issued March 3 about a February 28 crime.", "keyFindings": [ "The suspect was described as a white male in a camouflage hat.", "The message tells residents to lock doors and not to let unauthorized people in." ], "sources": [ { "title": "UTC-ALERT status archive", "url": "https://www.utc.edu/finance-and-administration/department-of-public-safety/alerts-status", "type": "official-archive", "accessDate": "2026-10-12", "archiveUrl": null, "archiveNotes": "SPN not attempted at 10:15Z" } ], "confidence": "high", "tags": [ "public-r2", "tennessee", "assault" ], "dateAdded": "2026-10-12", "lastUpdated": "2026-10-12", "addedBy": "ingestion" }