While it's been nearly a month since New York fashion writer and rape suspect Peter Braunstein stabbed himself in front of Rawls Hall after being cornered by campus police, the images are still fresh for some returning residents to the dorm.
Junior business and finance major Rebecca Robertson was checking out of her dorm Dec. 16 and planed on doing some last-minute Christmas shopping.
"I just happened to be on campus to take care of my dorm," Robertson said. "When I walked out, all I could see was police and blue lights everywhere."
Acting on tips that Braunstein had been spotted in the area, campus police caught up with Braunstein in front of the Panhellenic building near Rawls Hall and ordered him to halt. That's when Braunstien brandished a knife and threatened officers.
After being ordered to drop the knife, he began stabbing himself in the neck.
"I've never seen anything like that in my life," Robertson said. "There was blood everywhere and he fell on the ground. Everyone thought he was dead."
While Braunstein stabbed himself repeatedly, police used pepper spray to stop him from injuring himself and to subdue him.
"It was one of the scariest things I've witnessed," Robertson said.
While Braunstein was arrested without any harm to students, his presence on campus left some students afraid.
Braunstein is suspected of drugging and raping a New York City woman for 13 hours on Halloween.
He reportedly set several fires in the woman's building before disguising himself as a firefighter and forcing his way into her apartment.
Before the attack, Braunstein purchased the fireman's uniform on eBay along with several other disguises that included a police officer badge and a doctor's uniform.
"I think it is a pretty good reason to be scared when a suspected rapist is arrested in front of your dormitory," Robertson said. "Before now, if a man walked into my dorm with a real police badge and asked to see my room, I would have probably let him in. Now I know better."
Braunstein was extradited to New York City and charged with kidnapping, sexual assault and robbery on Dec. 19.
The charges of aggravated assault on an officer and carrying a weapon on school grounds by Memphis police were dropped.
Braunstein's arrest also prompted the nationally televised "American's Most Wanted" to do a re-enactment of the arrest on campus.
"'America's Most Wanted' did show a re-enactment that was videotaped in December," said Curt Guenther, communication director for The U of M.
Although police have emphasized that the Braunstein arrest was an isolated incident, the Memphis Police Department has several tips for preventing an attack:
̢ۢ Stay alert.
̢ۢ Walk everywhere with a sense of purpose. Show that you are calm and confident and know where you are going.
̢ۢ Carry your purse tightly and close to your body.
̢ۢ Keep your wallet in a side pocket.
̢ۢ Park in well-lighted areas.
"I know they arrested the guy, but it still scares me," Robertson said. "I don't think I will ever get over that while I am living on campus."
