Woman goes to police as UM launches assault probe

MISSOULA (AP) — A woman told Missoula police that she woke up the morning after attending a party and felt like she had been assaulted, but she couldn't remember what happened, a police detective said Friday.

The woman made her report to police on Thursday, the same day the University of Montana launched an outside investigation into allegations that two female students may have been given a date-rape drug and sexually assaulted by male students.

Neither police nor the university has named the people involved and The Associated Press does not report the names of victims of sexual assault.

The woman went to police on Thursday afternoon and told officers that she went to a party on South Higgins Street on the night of Dec. 3, said Detective Sgt. Travis Welsh. The woman said she woke up the next day feeling that she had been physically assaulted, but not sexually assaulted, Welsh said.

"She can't remember a specific incident that made her feel that way," Welsh said. "At this point, we can't even say that a crime has occurred."

Welsh said he did not know who was hosting the party.

Officers have begun making inquiries into the woman's report, but Welsh said he is afraid that rumors circulating about the alleged assaults may prevent people with useful information from coming forward and talking to police.

Welsh said the rumors include University of Montana football players being involved, but he said police have no information backing up that claim and he does not know where that information came from.

"We do not have a report of sexual assault involving Grizzly football players," Welsh said.

The university president's office referred questions to Vice President Jim Foley, who did not return a call for comment on Friday. The university released a statement that said it will maintain the confidentiality of all student witnesses and suspects involved in the allegations.

"At this time, we do not have specific evidence implicating anyone. When we do, we will take immediate action under the University Student Code of Conduct," UM president Royce Engstrom said in a statement.

The university has hired former state Supreme Court Justice Diane Barz to investigate the allegations. Her investigation began Thursday and is to be completed by the end of the month.