Southern Methodist University

Suspect Arrested in Sex Assault Near SMU

A Dallas man has been arrested in the alleged aggravated sexual assault earlier this month near the Southern Methodist University campus.

A female student was jogging in a residential area Sept. 7 in the 6700 block of Willard Drive when she was attacked from behind at about 11:15 p.m., police said.

The student told police she was raped by a man holding what was described as a sharp object.

Torey Jamal Harris, 23, is now charged in the case as well as a separate incident in Corsicana, where he allegedly attacked a Navarro College student on Monday, police said.

In that attack, police say Harris was armed with an ice pick when he attacked a female student.

He was quickly arrested and investigators said they realized he matched the description of the suspect in University Park.

When detectives interviewed Harris in Corsicana, they say he confessed to the University Park attack and gave details only the rapist would know.

"When he first grabbed the victim in our case, he asked the victim what her name was," said University Park Police Chief Greg Spradlin. "Our victim gave him a name, and then when our detectives were conducting the interview of him, he repeated that name to our detective."

Spradlin said investigators are looking into whether Harris committed any additional sexual attacks.

"It is our hope this arrest can bring a sense of peace to this community," he said.

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