VCU news

By Mike Porter

The Virginia Commonwealth University Police Department announced the arrest of a Richmond man on two charges of sexual battery and a separate charge of indecent exposure. Police allege the man is responsible for four incidents that occurred on Tuesday and Wednesday near the Monroe Park Campus.

On Wednesday, Sept. 28, the VCU Police Department arrested 21-year-old Marcello Toliver, of the 1500 block of West Cary Street. Toliver was arraigned this morning on two charges of sexual battery and a separate charge of indecent assault and held without bond.

A woman contacted police just after 11 p.m. to report that a male exposed himself to her near the intersection of Floyd Avenue and Morris Street. While responding, a VCU Police investigator noticed a man matching the description of the suspect at the corner of Grove Avenue and North Harrison Street. Police stopped the suspect and identified him as Toliver.

Police said Toliver matched the suspect description in similar sexual battery incidents that occurred on Tuesday in the 1700 block of West Cary Street, and on Wednesday near the intersection of Plum and Main streets and along the 1200 block of Cumberland Street.

VCU Police Chief John Venuti said the successful conclusion to this investigation was made possible through open communication with the campus community and through cooperation with partners in the Richmond Police Department and the Richmond Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office.

"VCU remains a very safe campus, and we will not tolerate victimization of members of our community,” Venuti said. “We will respond aggressively with all available resources to apprehend and prosecute the people responsible.”