Hunt still on for pantsless man who grabbed UNC student
CHAPEL HILL (WTVD) -- Chapel Hill police are on the lookout after a UNC student managed to escape from a man who exposed himself and made a grab for her arm.
MORE: Chapel Hill Police Searching For Reported Pantsless Man
The incident happened near Granville Towers and Fraternity Court at 1 a.m. Sunday morning. A man described as about 30 to 40 years old, sitting in a red four-door sedan, exposed himself to an 18-year-old woman, walking alone to her dorm at Granville.
"That's scary," first-year student and Granville resident Chris Mergy said. "It makes me feel kind of scared for all the girls walking home alone."
Several UNC students said they think the scariest part is that the pantsless man allegedly tried to grab the young woman's arm before she managed to escape - reminding many of separate incidents that happened months ago.
RELATED: Man Accused in Attempted Kidnapping Near UNC Could Face More Charges
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"Earlier in the year, someone was almost abducted on my street corner," UNC student, Sally Moore said. "It's just kind of scary when you live that close to campus."
Student Amara Jordan said she's glad the young woman got away and that the incident also reminded her of the attempted kidnapping.
"Someone tried to pull a gun on someone - on like this street actually - and tried to get them into their car, and kidnapped them, so after that I got like my pepper spray," Jordan said, walking on West Cameron Avenue, the street that runs behind Granville Towers.
Another student who lives near West Cameron said she often has to walk places alone but would feel more secure if the university would extend its emergency call buttons to other main streets outside just outside the university, leading to nearby off-campus housing.
"I have even thought of this myself - because I do live down this way and I walk this way every day - how kind of like, even at night, like walking home sometimes I get a little antsy," Samantha Strahan said. "I always thought that maybe there should be more call buttons."
Others said the Alert Carolina email sent out about the incident has them rethinking the way they get around.
"I definitely am by myself a lot, no matter how much my parents tell me to always be with someone, just more out of convenience," first-year student Mackenzie Harty said. "But after seeing this email, it really makes me become aware of my surroundings and yesterday I asked my friend to come on a run."
