Minneapolis police are investigating three sexual assaults that occurred earlier this week near the University of Minnesota campus.

The separate assaults occurred Monday afternoon. In each case, the victims were walking on a sidewalk when a man approached from behind and groped them.

The first incident occurred about 12:50 p.m. near Huron Boulevard and Fulton Street SE; the second about 1:45 p.m. near Oak Street and Washington Avenue; and the third about 2:30 p.m. near Ontario and Fulton streets.

Victims and witness describe the suspect as a white man, who appears to be about 20 to 25 years old and 5-feet-10 to 6-feet tall with a medium build. He was wearing bluejeans and a gray, wool peacoat with red hoodie underneath it.

Mary Lynn Smith