Men arrested in alleged sexual assault of St. Cloud college student
Two men accused of sexually assaulting a central Minnesota college student have been arrested.
Dipak Phayal, 20, was arrested Friday in Fremont, California, according to police. Phayal is charged with first- and third-degree criminal sexual conduct, as well as first-degree aiding and abetting criminal sexual conduct, charging documents say.
Sujan Tamang, 19, turned himself in to the New York City Police Department on Friday. He faces two counts of first-degree aiding and abetting criminal sexual conduct and one fourth-degree count of the same.
The two men are accused of forcing a student into her dorm room on First Avenue South in St. Cloud in the early hours of Nov. 1, then sexually assaulting her.
After she reported the alleged assault, a public safety officer identified Phayal and Tamang as suspects, the complaint states. They were allegedly seen in surveillance video hanging out in the dorm lobby when the woman returned to her dorm, then leaving and coming back having switched clothing with each other.
According to the complaint, an Instagram account under the name "Dipak Phuyal" messaged her to check in on her condition hours after the alleged assault.
Both men denied involvement in interviews with police. DNA samples taken during a medical exam of the victim matched both of them, according to the complaint.
Criminal complaints state both men had left Minnesota and "there is a substantial likelihood [they] will fail to respond to a summons."
Andrew Kaehler, executive director of the Central Minnesota Sexual Assault Center, says his organization covers four counties, including Stearns County.
"We always have an open-door policy here with individuals," Kaehler said. "We are a 24-hour crisis intervention service agency and as a nonprofit we provide confidential services to all individuals."
He encourages any survivor of assault to not be afraid to call for help.
"Just knowing that there are safe spaces for individuals and your voice deserves to be heard," he said. "It doesn't matter the time frame in which it happened, there is always going to be an advocate present for you to be able to share your story with."
The center has a 24-hour crisis hotline and provides individual counseling and court advocacy. Call 320-251-4357 for more information.
Other Sexual Assault Resources
- (SOS – Ramsey County)
- Sexual Violence Center (SVC – Hennepin County)
- Aurora Center (U of MN)
- 360 Communities (Dakota County)
- Hope Center (Rice County)
- Canvas Health (Washington County)
- Alexandra House (Anoka County)
General Sites for information related to sexual assault and resources throughout Minnesota:
General Sexual Assault Websites:
