Duke, UNC Police Alert Students To Campus Trespasser

Both universities want students to be aware of Samuel Williams Ferebee.Police said the 62-year-old man has appeared on both campuses, mainly harassing women.

UNC police said Ferebee has a habit of showing up at campus events, and want all students to be aware that he is a trespasser.

Ferebee faces charges for two counts of assault on a female and one count of misdemeanor stalking after a Duke student accused him of touching her at an event at UNC on March 27.

UNC police said Ferebee's behavior is similar in each encounter reported to them.

"He makes woman feel uncomfortable, approaches them, talks to them and tries to get them to come with him. In this last case in March, put his hands on a lady's back and on her shoulder, which was inappropriate. That is why he was charged with assault on a female," said Jeff McCracken, a UNC police investigator.

Cindy Current knows about Ferebee. She said she had an encounter with him during a UNC campus conference two months ago.

"I was approached by him. He didn't do anything inappropriate, but he was very odd and obviously not part of the academic audience," she said.

The

Duke Women's Center

sent an e-mail to students warning them of Ferebee and to be on the lookout for him.

"We wanted to make sure Duke students knew who he was so that they could be careful if they encountered him," said Donna Lisker, the center's director. "As long as people are aware of who he is and what his history is, they can take precautions for themselves."

Police said that even though complaints against Ferebee have been nuisance-oriented, they said he could be considered dangerous.

Ferebee has had numerous assault charges filed against him and a 1990 attempted rape conviction in Craven County.

Ferebee, who is out on bail, is scheduled to appear at the Orange County District Court on April 29.

Police said that they do not want women on either campus to be scared, but asks anyone who sees Ferebee to call 911.