Reprinted with permission from the Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald
A Jackson man has been arrested after a sexual assault occurred on the Chowan University campus.
According to a statement released by Chowan University officials, at 3:14 a.m. on Monday Chowan University Public Safety received a call that an assault was taking place on campus.
A Public Safety Officer immediately responded to the scene and pursued the alleged assailant.
“Due to the cooperative work of Public Safety and the Murfreesboro Police Department the alleged assailant was detained and arrested at 3:34 a.m.,” the statement reads.
The suspect is identified as Andre Jerome Howard, 26, of Ransom Street in Jackson. The statement said Howard is not related to Chowan University in any way.
Howard was charged with first degree rape, first degree kidnapping and assault with a deadly weapon.
Howard was taken to the Hertford County Jail where he was placed on a $100,000 cash bond.
“The victim was treated at a local hospital and returned to campus,” the statement closes. “Chowan University deeply appreciates the prompt response of the Murfreesboro Police Department in this incident.”
Murfreesboro Police Chief Darrell Rowe commended officers for apprehending the suspect quickly.
“Although this happened, I am proud the subject was in custody in less than an hour,” he said.
According to the North Carolina Department of Corrections, Howard has a list of convictions dating back to 2000 and among those convictions are assault with a deadly weapon and simple assault/affray.
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