alleged ethnic intimidation map.PNG

A screenshot of a Google map shows where a University of Michigan student reported an ethnic intimidation incident on Saturday, Nov. 12.

(Courtesy)

ANN ARBOR, MI - Police are investigating a report that a University of Michigan student was pushed down a hill in an incident of possible ethnic intimidation on Saturday, Nov.12.

An 18-year-old student told police she was walking between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. in the area of South University and Washtenaw avenues, east of the university's main campus, when she was approached by two men, Ann Arbor police Detective Lt. Matthew Lige said.

The student told police she had a dark sweatshirt collar pulled up over her face and a hood pulled down over her head, because she was cold. Based on the description, police believe this may have been mistaken for a burka.

"(One man) made a comment to her about whether or not she knows that she's in America," Lige said. The man also made a comment about religion, although Lige declined to specify what the comment was in the interest of the ongoing investigation.

Then, one or both of the men allegedly pushed the woman down the hill and fled, Lige said.

The woman reported the incident Sunday evening.

Police are investigating the report as an incident of ethnic intimidation, based on the comments made.

The two men were described as two white, college-aged males, one wearing a black coat or jacket. No other information was immediately available.

Lige said police do not believe the incident is related to a student that reported being threatened to take off her hijab or be set on fire on Friday. That matter is still under investigation.

Anyone with information on these incidents are asked to call the U-M Division of Public Safety and Security at 734-763-1131, the Ann Arbor Police Department tip line at 734- 794-6939 or tips@a2gov.org.