Student assaulted in library

University Police are searching for a man suspected of assaulting a female student last night on the third floor of Van Pelt Library. The assailant approached the woman from behind as she was studying in a carrel, placed one hand on her waist and the other over her eyes and warned her not to scream or make any noise, according to University Police Captain John Richardson. The victim was able to elbow the suspect until he let go of her. She managed to flee the scene unharmed, Richardson said. Van Pelt employee Ahmed Wagih said he was the first to respond to the student's cries. "She was running around the floor screaming for help, but the floor was totally deserted," Wagih said. "When I saw what was going on, I took her into my office and we locked the door." The employee added that he may have seen the suspect from a distance. He said the student described her assailant as a tall black male with short hair, wearing a blue button-down shirt. A University Police officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said no one saw a male fitting the description leaving the building before the police officers' arrival. Police had not yet announced any arrests in the case by 11 p.m. last night. Daily Pennsylvanian staff writer Doree Shafrir contributed to this report.