Officers investigating sexual assault near USC

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO) – Columbia Police Department is investigating a reported sexual assault near USC early Saturday morning.

Officers say it happened around 3:30 a.m. in the 800 block of Barnwell Street.

The victim, a woman, told police that an armed male forced her to go with him to the location where he sexually assaulted her.After the crime, she says she went to her apartment where her roommate called 9-1-1. The victim went to the hospital for medical treatment.

The females say they believe they first saw the male in the hallway area of an apartment complex and briefly talked with him.

CPD continues to gather information about the crime, including a description of the suspect.

If you have any information about this case that could help investigators, call CrimeStoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC.