Bail has been set for $1 million for a Newark man charged with severely beating a Rutgers student on the New Brunswick campus.
Michael P. Knight, 37, of Newark was charged today with attacking and severely beating a female student in New Brunswick last week. (Photo courtesy of Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office) NEW BRUNSWICK -- Authorities are looking for a Newark man who was charged Friday with attacking and severely beating a female student on the Rutgers University campus in New Brunswick last week.
Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew Carey said Michael Knight, 37, was charged with aggravated assault, attempted aggravated assault, aggravated sexual contact, kidnapping, and endangering an injured victim during the May 4, 2016 attack.
Carey said Knight, who may be armed and is considered dangerous, also was charged with making terroristic threats for threatening to kill a man who attempted to follow Knight as he fled the scene of the attack.
Knight is described s having shoulder length dreadlocks that may be tied at the back of his head. He is 6-feet, 2-inches tall and weighs between 220 and 250 pounds. He also has tattoos, including one on the left side of his neck. That tattoo consists of the letter "D," but the remainder of the tattoo is unclear.
The prosecutor said bail has been set at $1 million for Knight, who remains at large. A warrant has been issued for his arrest.
Michael P. Knight, 37, of Newark. Carey said the investigation determined that Knight followed the woman and attacked her near College Avenue and Seminary Place on Rutgers' New Brunswick campus at 3:30 a.m.
He said Knight struck her on the head, severely beat her, dragged her to the side of a building and was attempting to sexually assault her when a group of individuals intervened.
The prosecutor said as Knight fled, he said he had a gun and threatened to shoot one of the men who attempted to chase him.
The woman was taken to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick where she was treated for her injuries. She has since been released.
The investigation is continuing, Carey said. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Sgt. Carlos Rodriguez of the Rutgers University Police Department at (848) 932-8025 or county Detective George Stillwell at (732) 745-8675.
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