UNC STUDENTS, STAFF, AND FACULTY:
The Town of Chapel Hill Police Department has issued the following information in connection with a sexual assault that occurred around 3 a.m. Friday, Sept. 13, 2019.
“The Chapel Hill Police Department arrested Vernon Lamont Reed, 46, of Chapel Hill on Monday, Sept. 30, 2019, and charged him with first degree forcible rape, robbery with a dangerous weapon, assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury, and kidnapping. The incident took place around 3 a.m. Friday, Sept. 13, 2019.
‘We would like to thank the community for the many tips that we’ve received in this very difficult case,’ said Chapel Hill Police Chief Chris Blue. ‘And, our investigators have worked around the clock for more than two weeks to run those tips down. The tips, the immense amount of community interest in this case, and the hard work of our investigations team are what have led us to the arrest today.’
He remains in the Orange County Jail under a $500,000 secured bond. His first court appearance will be Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2019.
If anyone feels they are in need of assistance—whether it includes speaking to someone in our Crisis Unit about how they were affected by the news of the assault, information about resources to improve your personal safety, or receiving a site security check by members of our Community Services division—please call 919-968-2760 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. If you ever feel you are in immediate danger, call 911.”
UNC-Chapel Hill thanks the Town of Chapel Hill Police for its strong partnership with the town and campus communities and on its efforts leading to the arrest.
For a list of safety tips, see the following link: https://campussafety.unc.edu/carolinasafe/tips/.
About Informational Messages: Informational Messages are one of three tiers of communication under the University’s emergency communications plan and are sent to inform the campus community about a situation that is not an emergency but is expected to be of significant interest to the campus. The University sends Crime Alerts if there is a continuing danger and notification will not compromise a law enforcement investigation. An Emergency Warning refers to a siren activation for a significant emergency.