AMES, Iowa - ISU Police have located a missing Woodward Academy student, 17-year-old Philip Siragusa of California, and have him in custody. Siragusa was wanted for questioning in connection with an assault that occurred shortly before 2 p.m. in the Frederiksen Court apartments on the north side of the Iowa State University campus.
At 12:40 p.m., ISU Police received a report that Siragusa had walked away from a work project at Frederiksen Court, managed by ISU's Department of Residence. Siragusa was working with a group known as Knights on the Move, a local and short-distance moving company run by Woodward Academy. The university has a contract with the group to perform work in unoccupied buildings, said Nancy Brooks, director of purchasing at Iowa State. Brooks said the group has worked on campus in 2009 and this year. Today, the group was moving furniture in unoccupied Frederiksen Court apartments.
At 2:30 p.m., ISU Police received a report from an ISU student who lives in Frederiksen Court. The woman reported she had been assaulted by a man matching Siragusa's description. The man entered the woman's apartment and attempted to strangle her. A struggle ensued and the man punched the victim in the face. After the victim was able to fight off her attacker, he fled the area.
Siragusa was located and taken into custody at 3:44 p.m. near Hayward Avenue and Storm Street in Ames, southwest of campus. Siragusa was charged with burglary in the first degree, a Class B felony; other charges may be pending. He was transported to the Story County Justice Center in Nevada.
A criminal charge is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
For more information, contact ISU Police Lt. Elliott Florer at 515-294-4428.