Campus Alert Archive
Penn State Altoona

Timely warning for reported stalking and a sex offense in the residence halls

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Under Investigation

Between February 9 and February 11, 2024, Penn State Altoona University Police received a report of stalking and a sex offense involving a known person in the Residence Halls complex. The case (24AL00098) is one of the rare Penn State warnings simultaneously classified under two VAWA categories ('Sex Offense - Known' and 'Stalking - VAWA') and is housed in Penn State's centralized timely-warning archive.

Alerts
1
Response
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Killed
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Injured
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Institution
Pennsylvania State University, Altoona
Public R1 · PA
All Penn State Altoona cases →
~3,000 studentsRave Mobile SafetyPSUAlert
Documented Timeline

Alert Sequence

1 message in sequence · 1 verified verbatim

INITIAL ALERTEmail
Verified verbatimPenn State Timely Warnings (timelywarnings.psu.edu), Altoona campus, case 24AL000981195 chars
Sex Offense - Known, Stalking - VAWA has occurred at Altoona Case Number: 24AL00098 University Police received a report of a sex offense and stalking. The reported stalking occurred between 12:00 a.m. on February 9th and 11:59 p.m. on February 11, 2024, in the Altoona campus Residence Halls complex. The Residence Halls complex is in the northeastern portion of campus, adjacent to Nittany Drive and Gwin Road. It can be assumed that conditions continue to exist that may pose a threat to members and guests of the University community. This warning is being issued in compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act (VAWA). It is the duty of the administration to warn of possible 'dangerous conditions' on or near the campus, and at affiliate organizations off campus; an 'affirmative duty' exists to warn persons associated with the University of possible peril at the hands of some third party or parties. Members of the campus community are urged to use caution. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Penn State University Police at (814) 949-5222.
This is a rare dual-classification VAWA warning ('Sex Offense - Known' AND 'Stalking - VAWA'), most Penn State warnings carry a single category
The three-day incident window (Feb 9 12:00 AM EST through Feb 11 11:59 PM EST) reflects stalking's course-of-conduct nature spanning multiple distinct events
The 'Known' designation in the sex-offense category indicates the suspect was known to the victim, common in residence-hall sex-offense and stalking cases
Penn State Altoona is a ~3,000-student commonwealth-system campus in Altoona, PA, the largest commonwealth campus after University Park
The unusual inclusion of 'duty of the administration' / 'affirmative duty' language traces directly to Pennsylvania case law on universities' duty to warn, atypical for routine Penn State warnings, suggesting careful Clery officer drafting given the case's complexity
Residence-hall location is significant, the warning specifies the Residence Halls complex in the northeastern portion of campus, adjacent to Nittany Drive and Gwin Road
Penn State's standardized continuing-threat language ('It can be assumed that conditions continue to exist') is the bright-line trigger across all 24 campuses
Message elements

How the first alert is built

To check this alert, Claude (an AI) read it in full 25 separate times, independently. Each read decided whether the message answers each of the six questions and gave a short reason. A final reviewer then weighed all 25 and wrote the plain-English verdict you see when you open a row. The score (for example 22/25) is how many reads agreed; the 25 individual reads are tucked underneath if you want to check them.

Sex Offense - Known, Stalking - VAWA has occurred at Altoona Case Number: 24AL00098 University Police received a report of a sex offense and stalking. The reported stalking occurred between 12:00 a.m. on February 9th and 11:59 p.m. on February 11, 2024, in the Altoona campus Residence Halls complex. The Residence Halls complex is in the northeastern portion of campus, adjacent to Nittany Drive and Gwin Road. It can be assumed that conditions continue to exist that may pose a threat to members and guests of the University community. This warning is being issued in compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act (VAWA). It is the duty of the administration to warn of possible 'dangerous conditions' on or near the campus, and at affiliate organizations off campus; an 'affirmative duty' exists to warn persons associated with the University of possible peril at the hands of some third party or parties. Members of the campus community are urged to use caution. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Penn State University Police at (814) 949-5222.

  • Sourcepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    All 25 reads agree the source is present; the message names University Police and Penn State University Police.

    Who is sending the alert and who is responding. People act faster on a message from a clearly identifiable, credible sender, such as a named department, the police, or a branded alert system, than on an anonymous notice. A branded signature counts.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: Names "University Police" / "Penn State University Police" as issuer.
    2. present: It names "University Police" and "Penn State University Police", the issuer.
    3. present: Names "University Police" and "Penn State University Police", the issuing authority.
    4. present: It names "University Police" / "Penn State University Police", a responding authority.
    5. present: Names "University Police" and "Penn State University Police", the issuing authority.
    6. present: It names "University Police" and "Penn State University Police", the issuing authority.
    7. present: It names "University Police" / "Penn State University Police", the issuing authority.
    8. present: Names "University Police" and "Penn State University Police" as the issuing authority.
    9. present: Names "University Police" and "Penn State University Police".
    10. present: It names "University Police" and "Penn State University Police".
    11. present: It names "University Police" and "Penn State University Police".
    12. present: Names "University Police" and "Penn State University Police".
    13. present: Names "University Police" and "Penn State University Police", the issuing authority.
    14. present: It names "University Police" and "Penn State University Police" as the reporting authority.
    15. present: It names "University Police" and "Penn State University Police", the issuing authority.
    16. present: Names "University Police" / "Penn State University Police" as the issuing authority.
    17. present: It names "University Police" / "Penn State University Police".
    18. present: It names "University Police" and "Penn State University Police", the issuing authority.
    19. present: It names "University Police" and "Penn State University Police" as the authority.
    20. present: It names "Penn State University Police" and "University Police", the issuing authority.
    21. present: Names "University Police" / "Penn State University Police", the issuing authority.
    22. present: Names "University Police" and "Penn State University Police".
    23. present: It names "University Police" and "Penn State University Police" as the issuing authority.
    24. present: It names "University Police" and "Penn State University Police".
    25. present: It names "University Police" / "Penn State University Police" as the issuing authority.
  • Hazardpresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Unanimous that the hazard is present; it names a sex offense and stalking under VAWA.

    What the threat actually is. A complete warning names the specific danger, such as a shooter, a fire, a tornado, or a gas leak, rather than a vague emergency, because people decide what to do based on what they are facing.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: Names "a sex offense and stalking", specific hazards.
    2. present: It names "Sex Offense" and "Stalking", specific threats.
    3. present: Names "Sex Offense - Known, Stalking - VAWA", specific crimes.
    4. present: It names "Sex Offense - Known, Stalking - VAWA", specific threats.
    5. present: States "Sex Offense - Known, Stalking - VAWA", specific threats.
    6. present: It names "Sex Offense - Known, Stalking - VAWA", specific threats.
    7. present: It states "Sex Offense - Known, Stalking - VAWA has occurred", specific threats.
    8. present: States "Sex Offense - Known, Stalking - VAWA", specific threats.
    9. present: States "Sex Offense - Known, Stalking - VAWA", specific threats.
    10. present: It names "Sex Offense" and "Stalking - VAWA", specific threats.
    11. present: It states "Sex Offense - Known, Stalking - VAWA", specific threats.
    12. present: States "Sex Offense - Known, Stalking - VAWA has occurred", specific threats.
    13. present: States "Sex Offense - Known, Stalking - VAWA has occurred", specific threats.
    14. present: It states a "Sex Offense" and "Stalking" occurred, specific hazards.
    15. present: It names a "Sex Offense" and "Stalking", specific threats.
    16. present: Names "a sex offense and stalking", specific threats.
    17. present: It names "Sex Offense - Known, Stalking - VAWA", specific threats.
    18. present: It names "Sex Offense - Known, Stalking - VAWA", specific threats.
    19. present: It states "Sex Offense - Known, Stalking - VAWA has occurred", a specific threat.
    20. present: It states "Sex Offense - Known, Stalking - VAWA has occurred", specific named threats.
    21. present: States "Sex Offense - Known, Stalking - VAWA", specific named offenses.
    22. present: Names "a sex offense and stalking", specific threats.
    23. present: It names "Sex Offense - Known, Stalking - VAWA", a specific threat.
    24. present: It names "Sex Offense - Known, Stalking - VAWA", specific threats.
    25. present: It names "Sex Offense - Known, Stalking - VAWA", specific offenses.
  • Locationpresent25/25

    Final assessment

    All reads agree a location is present, citing the Altoona campus Residence Halls complex near Nittany Drive and Gwin Road.

    Where the threat is. Saying whether danger is in a specific building, a part of campus, or area-wide lets people judge their own proximity and choose a safe direction. Without a where, a warning is hard to act on precisely.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: Locates it "in the Altoona campus Residence Halls complex".
    2. present: It says "in the Altoona campus Residence Halls complex" adjacent to named drives.
    3. present: Specifies "the Altoona campus Residence Halls complex ... adjacent to Nittany Drive", named places.
    4. present: It cites "the Altoona campus Residence Halls complex ... adjacent to Nittany Drive and Gwin Road", specific places.
    5. present: Says "the Altoona campus Residence Halls complex ... adjacent to Nittany Drive and Gwin Road", specific places.
    6. present: It says "the Altoona campus Residence Halls complex", a specific place.
    7. present: It cites "the Altoona campus Residence Halls complex", a specific location.
    8. present: Says "in the Altoona campus Residence Halls complex" adjacent to named drives, a specific place.
    9. present: Locates it "in the Altoona campus Residence Halls complex".
    10. present: It cites "the Altoona campus Residence Halls complex" near "Nittany Drive and Gwin Road".
    11. present: It gives "the Altoona campus Residence Halls complex" near Nittany Drive.
    12. present: Locates it "in the Altoona campus Residence Halls complex".
    13. present: Says "in the Altoona campus Residence Halls complex", a specific location.
    14. present: It locates it "in the Altoona campus Residence Halls complex".
    15. present: It cites "the Altoona campus Residence Halls complex" near "Nittany Drive and Gwin Road", specific places.
    16. present: Says it occurred "in the Altoona campus Residence Halls complex".
    17. present: It locates it "in the Altoona campus Residence Halls complex".
    18. present: It locates it "in the Altoona campus Residence Halls complex" adjacent to Nittany Drive.
    19. present: It locates it "in the Altoona campus Residence Halls complex".
    20. present: It locates it "in the Altoona campus Residence Halls complex", a specific place.
    21. present: Says "the Altoona campus Residence Halls complex... adjacent to Nittany Drive and Gwin Road".
    22. present: Specifies "the Altoona campus Residence Halls complex".
    23. present: It locates it "in the Altoona campus Residence Halls complex".
    24. present: It names "the Altoona campus Residence Halls complex" adjacent to "Nittany Drive and Gwin Road".
    25. present: It locates it in "the Altoona campus Residence Halls complex".
  • Guidancepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Unanimous that guidance is present, urging members to use caution.

    The protective action to take. A clear, specific instruction, such as shelter in place, evacuate, avoid the area, or run-hide-fight, drives faster and more correct protective behavior than describing the threat alone.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: Urges members "to use caution", a protective action.
    2. present: It urges recipients to "use caution".
    3. present: Urges community members to "use caution".
    4. present: It urges members "to use caution", a protective action.
    5. present: Urges members to "use caution" and contact police, a protective action.
    6. present: It urges "Members of the campus community ... to use caution".
    7. present: It urges members "to use caution", a protective action.
    8. present: Urges members "to use caution", a protective action.
    9. present: Urges members "to use caution".
    10. present: It urges members "to use caution" and contact police with information.
    11. present: It urges members "to use caution" and provides a contact number.
    12. present: Urges members "to use caution" and to contact police.
    13. present: Urges members "to use caution", a protective action.
    14. present: It urges community members to "use caution", a protective instruction.
    15. present: It urges members to "use caution" and contact police, protective actions.
    16. present: Urges members "to use caution" and to contact police with information.
    17. present: It urges members "to use caution", a protective action.
    18. present: It urges members "to use caution", a protective action.
    19. present: It urges members "to use caution" and to contact police, a protective action.
    20. present: It urges members "to use caution", a protective action.
    21. present: Urges members "to use caution", a protective instruction to recipients.
    22. present: Urges members to "use caution", a protective action.
    23. present: It urges members to "use caution" and to contact police, a protective action.
    24. present: It urges "Members of the campus community... to use caution".
    25. present: It urges members to "use caution".
  • Timepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    All 25 reads agree timing is present, giving a window from 12:00 a.m. February 9 to 11:59 p.m. February 11, 2024.

    When the message applies. A timestamp, the word now or immediately, or a phrase like until further notice tells the reader whether the danger is current and how quickly to act.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: Gives "between 12:00 a.m. on February 9th and 11:59 p.m. on February 11, 2024".
    2. present: It gives the window "between 12:00 a.m. on February 9th and 11:59 p.m. on February 11, 2024".
    3. present: Gives the window "between 12:00 a.m. on February 9th and 11:59 p.m. on February 11, 2024".
    4. present: It gives times like "between 12:00 a.m. on February 9th and 11:59 p.m. on February 11, 2024".
    5. present: Gives "between 12:00 a.m. on February 9th and 11:59 p.m. on February 11, 2024".
    6. present: It gives a date range "between 12:00 a.m. on February 9th and 11:59 p.m. on February 11, 2024".
    7. present: It gives "between 12:00 a.m. on February 9th and 11:59 p.m. on February 11, 2024", clock times and dates.
    8. present: Gives dates and times like "between 12:00 a.m. on February 9th and 11:59 p.m. on February 11, 2024".
    9. present: Gives "between 12:00 a.m. on February 9th and 11:59 p.m. on February 11, 2024".
    10. present: It gives times like "between 12:00 a.m. on February 9th and 11:59 p.m. on February 11, 2024".
    11. present: It gives "between 12:00 a.m. on February 9th and 11:59 p.m. on February 11, 2024".
    12. present: Gives a date range "between 12:00 a.m. on February 9th and 11:59 p.m. on February 11, 2024".
    13. present: Gives times "between 12:00 a.m. on February 9th and 11:59 p.m. on February 11, 2024".
    14. present: It provides dates and times such as "between 12:00 a.m. on February 9th".
    15. present: It gives dates and times "12:00 a.m. on February 9th" to "11:59 p.m. on February 11, 2024", conveying when.
    16. present: Gives the window "between 12:00 a.m. on February 9th and 11:59 p.m. on February 11, 2024".
    17. present: It gives a date range "between 12:00 a.m. on February 9th and 11:59 p.m. on February 11, 2024".
    18. present: It gives dates and times "between 12:00 a.m. on February 9th and 11:59 p.m. on February 11, 2024".
    19. present: It gives the window "between 12:00 a.m. on February 9th and 11:59 p.m. on February 11, 2024".
    20. present: It states a date range "between 12:00 a.m. on February 9th and 11:59 p.m. on February 11, 2024", clock dates.
    21. present: Gives the window "12:00 a.m. on February 9th and 11:59 p.m. on February 11, 2024".
    22. present: Gives "between 12:00 a.m. on February 9th and 11:59 p.m. on February 11, 2024".
    23. present: It cites the window "between 12:00 a.m. on February 9th and 11:59 p.m. on February 11, 2024".
    24. present: It gives "between 12:00 a.m. on February 9th and 11:59 p.m. on February 11, 2024".
    25. present: It gives dates and times like "between 12:00 a.m. on February 9th and 11:59 p.m. on February 11, 2024".
  • Impactpresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Present by unanimous agreement. The Clery warning reports a sex offense and stalking and explicitly warns of dangerous conditions and possible peril that may pose a threat to the community.

    What the hazard could do to the people in its path. Beyond naming the threat, a complete warning conveys its potential consequences or severity, such as that a tornado can level buildings or that a leak could be explosive, so recipients grasp how much danger they are in. Research on warning message content finds that a concrete impact statement helps people personalize their risk and act sooner.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: It reports a sex offense and stalking and states conditions may pose a threat, an explicit stated danger.
    2. present: Reports a sex offense and stalking and states conditions may pose a threat to the community, an explicit stated peril.
    3. present: Reports a sex offense and stalking and warns of dangerous conditions that may pose a threat, an explicit statement of peril.
    4. present: Reports a sex offense and stalking and notes conditions may pose a threat, an explicit potential harm.
    5. present: It reports a sex offense and stalking and states conditions may pose a threat to community members, conveying potential danger.
    6. present: It reports a sex offense and stalking and warns of possible dangerous conditions and peril at the hands of a third party, an explicit statement of danger.
    7. present: Reports a sex offense and stalking and warns of dangerous conditions and possible peril, an explicit danger statement.
    8. present: States conditions may pose a threat and references a sex offense and stalking, an explicit danger.
    9. present: States a sex offense and stalking occurred and that conditions may pose a threat to the community, an explicit stated danger.
    10. present: The text reports a sex offense and stalking and warns of conditions that may pose a threat to the community, an explicit stated danger.
    11. present: It reports a sex offense and stalking and warns conditions may pose a threat and dangerous conditions, an explicit danger.
    12. present: Describes a sex offense and stalking and explicitly warns of possible dangerous conditions and peril at the hands of third parties.
    13. present: It reports a sex offense and stalking and states conditions may pose a threat to the community, an explicit danger.
    14. present: Reports a sex offense and stalking and warns of dangerous conditions that may pose a threat, an explicit harm statement.
    15. present: It reports a sex offense and stalking and states conditions may pose a threat to community members, a stated danger.
    16. present: A Clery warning of a sex offense and stalking that warns of dangerous conditions and possible peril to persons.
    17. present: Reports a sex offense and stalking and warns of dangerous conditions and possible peril, an explicit stated danger.
    18. present: It reports a sex offense and stalking and warns of dangerous conditions posing a threat, an explicit stated danger.
    19. present: A sex offense and stalking report noting conditions that may pose a threat conveys harm and ongoing danger.
    20. present: Describes a sex offense and stalking and warns of a continuing threat and dangerous conditions, a stated harm.
    21. present: It reports a sex offense and stalking and states conditions may pose a threat and warns of dangerous conditions and possible peril.
    22. present: It reports a sex offense and stalking and warns of dangerous conditions that may pose a threat, a stated peril.
    23. present: Reports a sex offense and stalking and warns conditions may pose a threat to the community, an explicit stated danger.
    24. present: Reports a sex offense and stalking and warns of possible peril at the hands of a third party, an explicit danger.
    25. present: Reports a sex offense and stalking and states conditions may pose a threat, conveying a stated danger.

Systematic AI judgments with visible reasoning, not human-validated codings.

About this analysis
Context

Background

Penn State Altoona is a four-year branch campus of Pennsylvania State University in Altoona, Pennsylvania, with approximately 3,000 students. This February 2024 dual-classification VAWA warning is unusual within Penn State's centralized timely-warning archive: most warnings cite a single Clery category, but this one combines 'Sex Offense - Known' with 'Stalking - VAWA' to capture the cumulative course-of-conduct over three days in the Residence Halls complex. The warning also includes language about the university's 'affirmative duty' to warn, a phrasing that traces back to Pennsylvania case law on institutional duty-to-warn doctrine, suggesting a careful Clery officer drafting in a case of unusual legal complexity. Per Daily Collegian reporting, Penn State's 24-campus centralized archive is a transparency model, but stalking-specific warnings remain rare. Stalking is a VAWA-covered Clery crime constituted by a course of conduct rather than a discrete event, making the multi-day incident window typical of stalking despite being rare for sex-offense reporting.
Analysis

Key Findings

Rare dual-classification: 'Sex Offense - Known' AND 'Stalking - VAWA' in a single warning, most Penn State warnings carry one category
Three-day incident window (Feb 9 - Feb 11, 2024) reflects stalking's course-of-conduct nature
Inclusion of 'affirmative duty' language reflects Pennsylvania case law on institutional duty-to-warn, unusual for routine Penn State warnings
Residence-hall location specifies the Residence Halls complex's exact campus location, including adjacent street names
Penn State Altoona is the largest commonwealth campus after University Park (~3,000 students)
Outcome
Investigation continued. The dual classification (sex offense + stalking) reflects the cumulative course-of-conduct nature of the offense. The Residence Halls complex sits on the northeastern edge of campus adjacent to Nittany Drive and Gwin Road.
Provenance

Sources

  1. Official
    Penn State Altoona Timely Warning: Sex Offense Known, Stalking VAWA (case 24AL00098)
    timelywarnings.psu.edu
    archived copy
  2. Official
    Penn State Timely Warnings centralized archive
    timelywarnings.psu.edu
    archived copy
  3. Student Paper
    What to know about timely warnings (Daily Collegian)
    psucollegian.com
    archived copy
  4. Clery ASR
    Penn State Altoona 2025 Annual Security Report
    police.psu.edu
    archived copy
Cite this case

Campus Alert Archive. "Pennsylvania State University, Altoona: Timely warning for reported stalking and a sex offense in the residence halls." Incident of February 9, 2024. Added May 2026; last updated July 2026. https://campusalertarchive.com/case/penn-state-altoona-sex-offense-stalking-vawa-2024-02-09/

Download case JSON

Alert text quoted on this page remains the work of the issuing institution; the archive is a secondary source.

Tags
stalkingsex-offensevawatimely-warningdual-classificationbranch-campuspublic-r1penn-statealtoonaresidence-hallaffirmative-dutyUnder Investigation
Added May 2026Updated July 2026Via ingestion