Albany Police investigate college student's rape claim.

Posted at: 09/02/2012 10:05 PM | Updated at: 09/03/2012 7:52 PM
By: Dan Levy

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ALBANY - Sometime after midnight Saturday night, an 18-year old college student from the University at Albany says she was raped somewhere in Albany's Pine Hills Neighborhood. Even though specific details are hard to come by, police say they're taking the case very seriously.

On a Saturday night in September, the corner of Western Avenue and Quail Street in Albany is usually buzzing with activity, as college students swarm into the neighborhood bars. It was in that environment that a young woman told police, she was raped late Saturday night/ Sunday morning.

At this point, Albany Police have themselves an inner city enigma, all because a young college student was all alone, late at night, walking the city streets.

"Right now we're just trying to put the pieces together," says Steve Smith, spokesman for the Albany Police Department. "We have an 18 year old who lives locally but is not very familiar with the city."

Police would obviously love to have more information about the case but the problem is the alleged victim can't seem to remember many details. It turns out she was drunk.

"Right now, she doesn't even know what home she was in," Smith says, adding that the woman couldn't even remember if she voluntarily walked into the building or if she was dragged there.

After leaving the house, the woman called a friend, who then drove her to Albany Medical Center Hospital, where they contacted police.

"It was a shocker," said Devin McMahon, who was being dropped off by her parents to begin her sophomore year at UAlbany Sunday afternoon, when she heard of the incident. "I didn't think anything like this would happen. I've been to Albany a few times and nothing even close to this happened."

Despite hearing about what had happened, McMahon said she's not really concerned although she also said that now she'd be "on her toes" when she's out and about.

Devin's father Michael Linehan, from Westchester County, saw a silver lining in the case.

"I'm sad it happened," he began, "but it'll be a good thing because the students will be more watchful with what's going on around them and be more proactive when something does happen like this."

His daughter agrees, adding, "I'll never walk by myself and (never) be drunk enough to not remember what happened to me."

University at Albany spokesman Karl Luntta says e-mails were sent to everyone in the college community as soon as they found out what had happened. The e-mail urges students to contact Albany Police if they have information. It also reminds them to use common sense and not to walk alone late at night.