Suspect surrenders in connection with alleged assault at UCLA fraternity party

A 21-year-old man sought in connection with an alleged sexual assault at an off-campus fraternity party near UCLA is in custody after surrendering to campus police.

He was identified as Nima Bendavood, who was booked for felony sexual penetration and is being held in Los Angeles County Jail in lieu of $100,000 bail, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff's inmate information.

Bendavood is due in LAX Superior Court on Tuesday.

He surrendered to UCLA police at 1:22 p.m. Saturday, campus police Lt. Kevin Kilgore said.

A UCLA student, whose name and age was not disclosed, told campus police she was assaulted shortly before 12:30 a.m. on Oct. 12 in the 600 block of Gayley Avenue by a man she did not know, Kilgore said.

Bendavood, who is not a UCLA student, had allegedly been at a fraternity party, but later left and was last seen heading north on Gayley Avenue, Kilgore said.

"The specific fraternity is not being released at this time due to the ongoing investigation," he said.

Anyone with information on the case was urged to call the UCLA Police Department detective unit at (310) 825-1491, Detective Bell at (310) 825-9371 or anonymously at (310) 794-5824.

EARLIER:

UCLA police are seeking public help to identify a "person of interest'' wanted for questioning in connection with a sexual assault at an off-campus fraternity party.

A UCLA student, whose age was not disclosed, told campus police that she was assaulted shortly before 12:30 a.m. on Oct. 12 in the 600 block of Gayley Avenue by a man she did not know, said campus police Lt. Kevin Kilgore.

The man was described as Persian or Indian, 18 to 23 years old, 5 feet 7 to 5 feet 11 inches tall, with a medium build, black hair, brown eyes, ``full eyebrows'' and a short beard.

He wore black pants and a T-shirt with a ``tuxedo photo'' on it that made it look like he was wearing a tuxedo. The man left the party, and was last seen heading north on Gayley Avenue.

"The specific fraternity is not being released at this time due to the ongoing investigation,'' Kilgore said.

Anyone with information on the case was urged to call UCLA Police Department detective unit at (310) 825-1491.

EARLIER

UCLA Police are investigating the sexual assault of a woman at an off campus fraternity party on October 12, 2018.

The victim is a student who reportedly told investigators that a man sexually assaulted her and then left the party at an unnamed fraternity on Gayley Avenue in Westwood.

"I can't say I'm super surprised because it feels like it's more prevalent than most people would think," one senior said.

The suspect is described as Persian or Indian, 18 to 23 years old, 5'7" to 5'11", medium build, black hair, brown eyes, full eyebrows, short beard and was wearing a t-shirt with a tuxedo photo on it and black pants.

"You are just going to have a good time you shouldn't worry about some guy being a weirdo," Sam Carrell, UCLA senior, said.

Students who spoke with FOX 11 said they didn't receive an official alert from the university, but some got notifications from independent crime alert apps they sign up for.

"I know for my undergrad at Cal State Long Beach whenever an incident happened they would send out an alert all the students in their emails," Brandon Hong, UCLA graduate student, said.

As part of the investigation police aren't disclosing the location of the alleged assault.

If you have information regarding this incident, please contact the UCPD Detectives at 310-825-1491