Man accused of assaulting Pitt student had master key to victim’s apartment building, police say
PITTSBURGH —
A man accused of following a Pitt student into an off-campus apartment, assaulting and strangling them, had master keys to the building, police say.
“I’m definitely scared, I mean this is crazy. I can’t even — I’m still going through my mind that someone was able to get the master key,” said John Freeman who lives in the area.
Chaz Ramon Corlew Jr is facing multiple charges including burglary, stalking, simple assault, strangulation, indecent assault and resisting arrest.
According to a criminal complaint, Corlew followed the victim into his apartment at 3506 Forbes Avenue.
“I mean we saw the cops here over the weekend, when we heard what happened it made us like nervous I guess,” said Leah Larsen, who lives in the building.
The apartment complex, HERE Pittsburgh, bills itself as modern student apartments near the University of Pittsburgh’s campus. It is not campus housing.
After entering the apartment, Corlew allegedly propositioned the victim and grabbed him inappropriately before trying to lead him into a bedroom.
The complaint states the victim backed into the hallway, where Corlew followed and placed the victim into a chokehold.
“It doesn’t make me excited to live here,” said Malia Savas, who has lived in the building for three years.
The victim told authorities he could not breathe while being choked but managed to free himself and scream for help.
Corlew ran from the scene while the victim went to the lobby to call police. The victim said he left the lobby, where he ran into Corlew for a second time. Corlew allegedly followed the victim as he ran away, eventually losing Corlew in a crowd of people.
Police say when they found the suspect, they were able to put one handcuff on him before he began to resist. He was eventually forced into handcuffs.
Authorities say they found multiple keys, including a master key to 3506 Forbes Avenue.
The keys found on Corlew allegedly went to the victim’s apartment building and the master key was able to open any door in the building.
The victim told authorities he did not know Corlew.
Corlew has since been taken into custody.