DOUGLAS COUNTY — Hundreds of people chanted and held signs outside a University of Kansas fraternity house Monday where a member is accused of sexually assaulting another student.
The Lawrence Police Department responded to the 1600 block of W. 15th Street for what was initially reported as a trespassing in progress, according to police department spokesperson Patrick Compton.
Officers encountered several hundred individuals gathered outside a Phi Kappa Psi fraternity house engaged in protest.
Police along with members from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and KU Public Safety maintained a law enforcement presence in the area for the duration of the protest to ensure the safety of everyone involved.
No arrests were made, and no injuries were reported.
"We are aware of social media reports that claim LKPD used OC (pepper) spray on protestors in attendance. This was done by private security personnel in advance of police arrival," according to Compton.
"We are also aware of an incident involving a possible sexual assault near campus over the weekend. In order to protect the privacy of victims, we do not comment or provide details about sexual assault incidents or their associated investigations."
"We take allegations of sexual assault very seriously. Part of the trauma-informed process utilized by the Lawrence Kansas Police Department focuses on empowering survivors by allowing them time and space to make their own decisions. We encourage anyone who is a victim or has knowledge of a sexual assault to call us at 785-832-7509."