Winfield police expect to interview a man ? sought for questioning as part of what is described as a date-rape type of investigation involving Southwestern College students ? as early as this week, police chief Danny Parker said Tuesday.
The man has stopped attending classes at the college and relocated to Texas just after the incident was said to have occurred in mid September, a couple weeks after classes began. He has retained the services of a Wichita attorney.
Parker said an interview, here in Kansas, is likely to occur in the coming days, though he could not say if that would happen at the police station or in Wichita. At this point, no charges have been filed in the case.
"It’s kind of complicated," Parker said. "Right now we just want to get both sides of the story."
An investigation began last month after a female reported being raped at a residence off campus. Parker said the case has proved difficult to investigate because the alleged incident was not reported immediately, which has made the collection of physical evidence more difficult.
It’s not unusual, though, for victims to wait to report such an incident to police, he said. Parker also confirmed that the man and woman involved knew one another and were a the residence together consensually, perhaps for a party or get-together.
"Sometimes victims wait, and that can be because they are ashamed or embarrassed," he said. "Really what we’ve got right now, is a mostly he-said-she-said type thing."
Police have interviewed two females in the case, at least one of whom is the potential victim. Parker said both could be victims or one is a potential victim and the other a potential witness.
The woman central to the investigation told police she felt like she "had no choice" but to consent, Parker said.
"In a date-rape type situation, it can be complicated," Parker said. "Often times there is a lack of communication, or there is consent up to a point. We just have some questions we’d like to ask and hear the answers to."
Police expect to prepare a report on the case and forward it to county prosecutors for a decision on charges.
Sara Weinert, vice president of communications for the college, said the matter was in the hands of police and therefore the college has chosen not to comment on the specific incident.
She added, however, that acquaintance, or date rape, is a topic covered with students as they move into student housing and begin the college experience.
"It’s part of an on-going educational effort," Weinert said. "It’s definitely something that is discussed."
