UNA police arrested and charged freshman Tyre Pickett with first-degree rape of a student Oct. 25 in connection with an incident that occurred in Rivers Hall.

“Oct. 24 at approximately 10:09 p.m., (the) UNA Police Department was notified by Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital that a student was being treated due to an on-campus incident,” said UNA Police Chief Kevin Gillilan in an email. “UNA Police responded to ECM hospital to file an official report and dispatched a sexual assault investigator to initiate the investigation.”  

Based on the investigation, UNA police identified and arrested Pickett. However, the investigation is still ongoing, Gillilan said.

“As advocates to any potential victim, The University of North Alabama and UNA Police will be working in concert with Lauderdale County District Attorney’s Office, Rape Response, One Place of the Shoals and the UNA Title IX office to ensure that all needed resources are provided to the victim in this case,” Gillilan said.

Stick with The Flor-Ala as this story develops.