Officials: Hillsborough man charged with criminal sexual contact near Rutgers campus
Police say Crystaljay Ecot groped the victims in an intimate area before running past them.
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A Hillsborough Township man accused of sexually touching two female Rutgers University students was charged with two counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual contact.
Authorities say that an investigation led to the arrest of 29-year-old Crystaljay Ecot, after two female students reported being touched sexually on Monday evening.
“No woman should be treated like that. I’m speechless, I don’t know what to say,” said Rutgers University freshman Nidha Darji.
RELATED: Man made sexual contact with 2 women near Rutgers campus, tried to harass 3 more, police say
The two separate incidents happened in the areas of Hamilton Street and College Avenue in New Brunswick, near the Rutgers campus. Some students say that even though arresting Ecot was important, it doesn’t change the fact that they feel unsafe.
“I mean it still doesn’t, it makes it better in a way, but not fully,” says Darji. “It does make it scary for a lot of students.”
“Me, I personally don’t walk alone during nights. I prefer being with someone else because of that because of I’m really scared of someone coming to me,” said Victoria Jure, who is also a student at Rutgers.
Earlier this month, another man identified as 33-year-old Jose Paulino, was charged with criminal attempt sexual contact in connection with five groping incidents over two nights near this same campus on College Avenue.
Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Sean Freeman of the New Brunswick Police Department at 732-745-5217, Detective Richard McNulty of the Rutgers Police Department at 848-932-1889 or Detective Stephanie Redline of the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office Special Victims Unit at 732-745-3316.
Rutgers police reminded students and residents to take reasonable safety precautions, including:
Stay alert and attuned to people and circumstances around you.
Report suspicious activity or persons to the police.
Avoid isolated or dark areas.
Walk in groups when traveling during late night hours.
Police escorts are available for students, faculty and staff upon request. To request a security escort, contact the police communications center at 732-932-7211.
