A woman called police from Penn Station early Wednesday and reported that she had been raped overnight at the InterContinental Harbor Court at Baltimore's Inner Harbor, according to a department spokesman.
Authorities had few details and said the woman invoked the "Jane Doe Law" that allows her to remain anonymous, even to police, and to be treated at a hospital or at a rape center where forensic evidence will be preserved for a year. The law is designed to encourage victims to seek help without having to first go to law enforcement.
John Stowell, director of sales and marketing for the hotel on Light Street just north of Federal Hill, said his security staff was cooperating with police but he denied that the assault occurred at the hotel or on its property.
"The InterContinental Harbor Court Baltimore hotel holds the safety, comfort and well-being of our guests and employees as our top priority and concern," Stowell said in a statement. "Contrary to media reports earlier [Wednesday], an alleged assault did not take place at the InterContinental Harbor Court Baltimore hotel nor is there any information implicating involvement by a hotel staff member or security guard."
Baltimore police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said the woman called 911 at 5:02 a.m. from the train station and reported being raped in the hotel. No other information was available. The spokesman said there is a "robbery component" that detectives are investigating but no details were released.
Under the "Jane Doe Law," the woman has up to a year to decide whether to pursue her case through law enforcement.