Editor’s note: This story was updated on Dec. 4, 2024 at 4:08 p.m.
An arrest was made in connection to an on-campus sexual assault that occurred on Nov. 10.
Saif Al-Khafaji of Louisville was released from jail, four days after his booking, which occurred on Nov. 23, according to Lex 18. He will appear in court on Feb. 17, 2025 for allegations from EKU about harassment and stalking.
“Jail staff said he posted a $7,500 bond for a ‘failure to appear’ charge that is unrelated to what happened near UK’s campus,” according to Lex 18.
The campus community received a crime bulletin about the reported sexual assault on Nov. 15, the fifth bulletin of the semester.
According to Lex 18, UK Police Chief Joe Monroe said that more students came forward with accusations against Al-Khafaji after the bulletin was sent out.
“In an interview with UK Police Chief Joe Monroe last week, he said, ‘We had a report of two female individuals that were walking on campus coming back from a bar late at night, and they were followed by an individual who grabbed one of the females and tried to drag her into a parking lot,’” according to Lex 18.
The assault happened at the intersection of Rose Street and Euclid Avenue, near the University of Kentucky Police Department, according to the crime bulletin.
Police arrested Al-Khafaji, the suspect of the reported Nov. 10 assault, according to UKNow, UK’s news website.
Al-Khafaji was arrested by Louisville airport police on a warrant issued in Fayette County, according to WLKY. Al-Khafaji, a Louisville resident, was charged with first-degree sexual abuse and second-degree indecent exposure, according to UKNow.
“UK Police connected the suspect to a separate report of indecent exposure based on the description given by the victim. Detectives quickly identified the suspect using the security camera system on campus. An arrest warrant was issued Thursday, Nov. 21, and Al-Khafaji was arrested on Saturday, Nov. 23,” according to UKNow.
According to Lex 18, Al-Khafaji worked at the airport, where he was ultimately arrested.
Al-Khafaji had previously been on Eastern Kentucky University’s campus where campus police were notified about “on-going harassment and stalking related incidents involving female students,” according to WDRB.
Al-Khafaji approached female students at EKU while they were walking, according to WDRB, and pressured them to go back to his dorm. He was first cited by EKU police on April 15, according to Lex 18.
“Each victim told EKU police they were scared he would physically injure, sexual assault or kidnap them. Al-Khafaji met with EKU police and told them he engaged about 30-40 or more women on campus since August 2023 and that he had the intent of pursuing a romantic relationship,” WDRB said.
According to WDRB, Al-Khafaji is scheduled to appear in court in Madison County on Nov. 25 for a pretrial conference.
