BY IAN YARETT

Online | May 2, 2008

At approximately 2 a.m. this morning, an unknown individual attempted to physically force a male Swarthmore student into the car he was driving. The student, who was walking away from McCabe Library, was able to escape and called the police. According to Director of Public Safety Owen Redgrave, the incident took place near the Cunningham House on College Avenue.

According to Sgt William Thomas of the Swarthmore Police Department, the suspect, later identified as Tom T. Chiang, a dental student from Virginia, drove up in a 1997 Lexus and asked the student for directions to the president’s house. After the student gave him directions, Chiang insisted that the student get into the car to show him the way. The student refused, but said he would walk alongside the vehicle.

According to Redgrave, the suspect was not a member of the Swarthmore community and was not known by the student. “The student had never seen [the suspect] before in his life,” Redgrave said.

At that point, Chiang allegedly got out of his car and tried to force the student into his vehicle. “The student was able to fight [the suspect] off and ran to the [Black Cultural Center], at 411 College Avenue, where the police were called,” Thomas said.

According to Redgrave, the BCC was open at that time, and there were students inside. The student victim waited there until an officer arrived.

After receiving the call, the Swarthmore police broadcast a description of the vehicle to the police departments of the surrounding communities, according to Thomas. Soon after, Marple police observed a vehicle matching the description traveling down Springfield Road, driving on the wrong side of the road and running through two red lights at a speed of approximately 75 miles per hour. “The police pursued the vehicle up to the intersection of Sproul and Springfield,” Thomas said. “At that point, the suspect jumped out of his vehicle and ran on foot.”

Chiang was ultimately apprehended by Officer Murrin of the Marple Police Department, after a brief chase on foot. Swarthmore police transported the student victim to the scene, who positively identified the suspect as the man who had tried to force him into the vehicle earlier on, near McCabe.

Chiang, who was arraigned this morning, has been charged with one felony: attempted kidnapping; and eight misdemeanors: unlawful restraint, false imprisonment, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, fleeing and eluding, reckless driving, vehicles required to be right, and two red lights. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison for these offenses, according to Thomas. The motive for these crimes is not yet known.

Chiang’s hearing has been scheduled for June 2. He is now being held at Delaware County Prison, with bail set at $100,000 cash. He will not be allowed to post bail until he undergoes a full drug and alcohol evaluation, which will take approximately three weeks.

Dean of Students Jim Larimore was unavailable to comment on this incident prior to publication, but described the incident in an e-mail message sent to all students this morning. He assured students that the college will continue to make campus safety a high priority. “Each of us should remain vigilant about our personal safety, particularly late at night, and where possible, travel with other companions,” he said, urging students to take advantage of the evening shuttle, escort service or Public Safety officers when in need of an escort across campus.

Additional Reporting by Mara Revkin

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