Suspended UConn Soccer Player Charged In Campus Sex Assault Case

VERNON, CT — A 21-year-old man identified by the Tolland County state's attorney as a suspended University of Connecticut soccer player was arrested Monday in New York on a fugitive from justice charge related to a case of aggravated sexual assault and unlawful restraint.

According to a warrant, Ziyad Fekri was taken into custody by members of the FBI Safe Streets Task Force following an investigation by the University of Connecticut Police Department and the Tolland State’s Attorney’s Office.

According to a warrant, on Feb. 15, a female UConn student went to the campus police department to report that she was assaulted by a male UConn student she knew.

The "assailant" was identified as Fekri, a member of the UConn men’s soccer team, authorities said.

Based on "the investigative facts and circumstances and using Connecticut Domestic Violence protocols," an arrest warrant was issued for Fekri on Feb. 16.

The case revolves around incidents that took place after midnight on Feb. 13 into the early morning hours of Feb. 14, according to the warrant.

The warrant charges Zekri with second-degree assault, third-degree assault, disorderly conduct, and unlawful restraint.

Fekri was processed at the UConn Police headquarters in Storrs and posted a $75,000 cash/surety bond. He was released from custody with a protective order in place for the victim, according to a warrant.

Following Fekri's arrest, UConn police determined that Fekri was responsible for "a number of violent assaults" over a month's time involving the same woman, according to a warrant.

The warrant continued, "The assaults escalated as time progressed and included pulling of hair, grabbing the victim from behind around the neck, punching her in the face with closed fists, cutting the victim with a knife and two sexual assaults at knifepoint."

Authorities said a number of witnesses came forward and provided sworn written statements about the case.

UConn police secured a second arrest warrant from Rockville Superior Court for Fekri on two counts of first-degree aggravated sexual assault and one count of unlawful restraint. A court-set bond of $500,000 was assigned to the warrant, authorities said.

Police were not able to locate Fekri at his assigned university housing and eventually tracked him down staying with friends in Elmsford, NY.

After he was picked up in New York, Fekri was charged as a fugitive from justice by police in Greenburg, and is awaiting extradition to Rockville Superior Court, authorities said.

UConn spokeswoman Stephanie Reitz told Patch that Fekri is currently an enrolled student, but was suspended from the soccer team at the time of his February arrest and therefore was not living on campus housing or taking in-person courses.

UConn officials released the following statement:

"Federal student privacy laws prevent UConn from discussing whether a conduct review has been initiated involving specific student(s). Those reviews are necessary before the University could consider whether to implement permanent disciplinary actions, including expulsion.

"UConn can take interim steps during the disciplinary process to restrict a student's participation in campus life and activities, including prohibiting a person from UConn property.

"While federal laws prohibit the University from confirming whether a student faces the conduct process and potential sanctions, UConn tries to act swiftly to resolve the reviews and reach a permanent resolution while respecting due process rights."

Reitz added since the court case is "going through the legal process," UConn is not discussing specifics "beyond what has been publicly released."