Sexual predator held by two dorm residents
CU’s now infamous “dorm crasher” returned to Baker Hall Wednesday evening at around 7 p.m. to “clear things up” with one of his alleged victims, despite being permanently banned from campus after his February arrest.
Christopher Frederick Ferguson, a 20 year-old Boulder County resident, allegedly forced his way into Baker before the women he was following could close the door, according to a CU Police Department press release.
Once inside the dorm, Ferguson was spotted by students, who then called the police to inform them that they were attempting to detain a “sexual predator.”
Before the police arrived, Ferguson was escorted to the dorm’s lobby by two males, where an “unknown” man allegedly punched him multiple times. Ferguson was described as having a “red puffy face” by Cmdr. Brad Wiesley. Police are still investigating this claim.
The woman involved was not harmed.
Police arrested Ferguson, who is not a CU student, on suspicion of attempting to intimidate a victim of a crime, trespassing and unlawful conduct for entering the campus from which he was banned.
Only two months ago, on Feb. 23, Ferguson was arrested for barging into the dorm rooms of several women, allegedly pretending to be drunk and in some cases groping his victims.
Ferguson was charged with 10 counts of second-degree burglary, two counts of unlawful sexual contact and one count of harassment. A permanent ban from campus was also imposed on him.
Ferguson is currently being held at the Boulder County Jail. He appeared in court on Thursday afternoon, where the judge posted his bail of $20,000.
The fact that Ferguson disobeyed the ban placed on him and returned to harass his victim “could certainly make the penalties more severe,” Wiesley said.
Though CU will not be put on “campus safety alert,” as it was during Ferguson’s first string of crimes, police will be increasing patrols for the remainder of the semester.
CU officials are also working to organize a “community watch program” to help enhance the safety and security of residence halls.
“We had a quick and thorough response and are very proud of our residents,” Director of Housing Deb Coffin said in the CUPD press release. “The University Police continue to respond quickly to reports. These are great examples of community members and police partnering to make our communities safer.”
For a list of resources offered to help students cope with the incident or report further problems, visit http://www.colorado.edu/students/services.html
Contact staff writer James Collector at james.collector@thecampuspress.com
