Police Arrest Suspect Accused of Attacking a Memphis College of Art Student in Her Sleep

Memphis police arrested 24-year old Patrick Herrington today. He is suspected of attacking a Memphis College of Art student in her dorm room. Photo: Courtesy of Memphis Police Department.

Memphis Police have arrested Patrick Herrington, a 24-year old local resident, after identifying him as the person caught on surveillance tape allegedly entering a dorm at the Memphis College of Art and attacking a female student, according to an update in WMC Action News 5.

Police responded to a call of an intruder in Fogelman Hall early on Sunday, September 6. Once inside, the suspect allegedly tried opening several dorm room doors and then found one unlocked.

The victim was a 19-year old woman who told police she woke up to find an unknown man on top of her, holding a knife to her throat. The woman was able to fend off the perpetrator and he ran away after being confronted by one of her roommates. No injuries were reported.

The suspected intruder is facing charges of aggravated sexual battery, aggravated assault, and aggravated burglary.

Locked gates surround the dorms, and a key card is required for entry. The dorm building is also locked. But security cameras outside the dorm show a man walking inside the gate and approaching the dorm. School officials said the man lingered around the security gate and then slipped in behind a student vehicle.

Surveillance video showing the intruder walking inside the security gates. Image: Courtesy of WMC Action News 5.

Surveillance video showing the intruder walking inside the security gates.
Image: Courtesy of WMC Action News 5.

Students at the college were on high alert after the attack.

“I was pretty freaked out about it at first. It’s kind of scary,” student Alyssa Frantajk, told WMC.

Other concerned students commented on the fact that the intruder was able to bypass the security gate and locked doors.

Kayla Caron, another Memphis College of Art student, told the paper that she was paying close attention to her surroundings in the wake of the attack.

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