A brazen series of attacks at the uptown hospital complex has officials increasing security and patients and employees wary about their safety.
A man sexually assaulted a woman in a restroom on Kaiser Permanente’s medical campus Thursday morning, then attempted to rape another, police said.
The same man also tried to force his way into a bathroom stall in a women’s restroom at another Kaiser building. And earlier in the day, he was escorted out of Exempla St. Joseph Hospital after gaining access to a secured administration building, according to police and hospital officials.
“This individual, based on the fact that he went from one location to a second location, makes him a great concern,” said David Fisher, Denver police division chief of investigations. “It appears to be a random act of opportunity.”
Hospital officials beefed up security at the complex, but patients and workers said they will no longer feel safe.
Becky Rokey, who for the past few weeks has been staying at the Ronald McDonald House next door to the Kaiser Skyline building, said she usually felt safe walking around the campus even after dark.
“I never thought something like that would happen at a place like this,” said Rokey, 42, of Sabetha, Kan. “I’m going to be asking security to walk me around this area from now on.”
The buildings where the attacks happened are difficult to secure, hospital officials said.
“The employees are home with their loved ones, but we clearly do want to state we’re concerned about the security in our buildings,” said Donna Lynne, president of Kaiser.
The Kaiser building where police said the sexual assault took place houses medical specialists and has at least six entrances, with a security desk only at the main entrance, said Kaiser spokeswoman Jacque Montgomery.
“You literally have thousands of people, patients and family members who don’t need to check in,” Montgomery said. “We have confidence in our security system, but there’s always room for improvement.”
The facility will get five additional security guards, who will be escorts for people going to their cars. Security also will be more proactive in talking with everyone using the building, Montgomery said.
All hospitals around the East 20th Avenue campus were told to be on alert, including Presbyterian St. Luke’s and Children’s Hospital, Lynne said.
Police also stepped up patrols of the area, and Kaiser employees were given fliers with photos of the attacker. Area employees and patients were told to be on the “buddy system” and not to travel alone on campus.
Other hospitals said it is difficult to secure buildings that are used by so many people every day.
Allison Hefner, spokeswoman for Littleton Adventist Hospital, said her hospital has never had to deal with a situation like this.
“A hospital is a public place,” Hefner said. “The baby unit is restricted. We have lots of security measures in place. If someone acts suspicious, certainly security is contacted, and they will gauge the nature of the visit.”
Thursday’s incidents started early.
About 7:30 a.m., the suspect accessed a secured administration building at Exempla St. Joseph Hospital, but employees alerted security guards and escorted him off the property, said Robert Minkin, the hospital’s president and chief executive officer.
Because it is an administration and not a medical treatment facility, the building has keycard- accessed secure doors. Hospital officials do not know how the man was able to enter.
“I can’t speculate on what his intention was for being there,” Minkin said.
About 8:30 a.m., the first employee was attacked in a women’s restroom at the Kaiser building at 2045 Franklin St., police said. The man also attempted to sexually assault a second woman who walked into restroom, but she thwarted the attack, Fisher said.
The assailant then walked to the Kaiser Skyline building nearby, where he tried to force his way into an occupied stall in the woman’s restroom, police said. He fled the medical campus before police arrived a few minutes later.
“This entire thing appears to have taken place within 15 minutes,” Fisher said.
Surveillance cameras at the hospital buildings gave investigators clear pictures of the assailant, Fisher said.
He was described as about 5 feet 8 with a muscular build and wearing a dark plaid shirt. Police said they don’t believe he is the serial rapist who has been attacking women in the Denver area in the past two years.
Staff writer Manny Gonzales can be reached at 303-820-1537 or mgonzales@denverpost.com.
