A University of Minnesota student reported she was sexually assaulted after she agreed to take a ride from a man claiming to be a cop early Sunday.

According to University of Minnesota police, at about 2:15 a.m. the female victim was walking alone near the intersection of 15th Avenue SE and 8th Street SE in Minneapolis – a few blocks from the University of Minnesota campus – when a man driving a black SUV slowed down and talked to her. He told her he was a police officer and cautioned her about walking alone.

He then offered to give her a ride. Once she complied and was in his vehicle, he locked the doors, drove to a remote location and sexually assaulted her, police said.

Police describe the suspect as a black male between the ages of 23 and 27 years old with a medium build. He had short hair or a shaved head, and a neatly trimmed chin-strap style beard. He was wearing a dark-colored jacket with a badge on it, dark pants, and a security or police-style duty belt. He was driving a dark SUV with dark interior, and it had a computer screen in the center console.

A crime alert was sent to University students, faculty and staff around 6 p.m. Sunday.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Minneapolis Police Tip Line at 612-692-8477 and reference case number MP-13-391636.

The University of Minnesota encourages students to not walk alone late at night and on weekends, and it offers a free campus escort service.