LOGAN – A Utah State University football player is in police custody after police said she broke into a dorm on campus and sexually assaulted a female student on Sunday.
Isamel (Izzy) Kalani Vaifo’ou, 22, was a witness walking around building D of the Living Learning Center on the USU campus. There were several reports of the introduction of several Vaifo’ou suites on different floors, according to the probable cause statement.
Each suite has a door to the hallway leading to a common room with separate doors leading to five single bedrooms. Both the hallway doors and the doors of each bedroom have student-controlled locks that live in each suite, although several suites are often unlocked.
A student slept in her private bedroom and woke up to the sound of the opening and closing of the common room door. The student said he sent a text message to his roommate sleeping in a separate bedroom to ask what was going on. After texting his roommate, Vaifo’ou entered the first room and headed for the student’s bed. When she asked him to identify himself, he left.
According to the statement, the second roommate reported that Vaifo’ou entered his bedroom while sleeping. He told officers he woke up to find him lying next to him in bed wearing only his underwear. He said he pushed him and told him to get out and he put on his clothes and left the room.
Campus police say a witness who spoke to the second roommate after the incident revealed that she said Vaifo’ou touched her and assaulted her inappropriately.
Police say the witness said Vaifo’ou entered his suite and another suite. Vaifo’ou told the witness that he was intoxicated and had entered a dark apartment and had interacted with a student. The witness left Vaifo’ou in the hallway and called for help.
Officers found Vaifo’ou on the first floor of the building with clear indicators of alcohol deterioration. He was taken to a local hospital for medical clearance before being taken to the USU police department.
Police said that after being interviewed by police, Vaifo’ou confirmed the incident and stated that he did not know anyone with whom to interact.
Vaifo’ou is being held at Cache County Jail on suspicion of forced sexual abuse, one count of theft, two counts of rape and one count of poisoning. USU police are investigating the incident.
USU spokeswoman Amanda DeRito said she has been suspended from the football team and all team activities. Nor can he go to campus without being escorted by campus police.
Students can report crimes on campus by calling 435-797-1939 or report campus misconduct to the university’s Office of Equity. Resources for students who have experienced sexual misconduct can also be found on the university’s website.