A Cambridge man has been arrested after allegedly sexually assaulting two women in the female locker room of a gym on Thursday morning.
Cambridge Police said Laquan Holland, 40, allegedly entered the women’s locker room at the Planet Fitness on Massachusetts Avenue at approximately 9 a.m.
Holland faces two counts of assault to rape, two counts of indecent assault and battery on a person over 14, as well as one count each of kidnapping and witness intimidation, police confirmed.
Cambridge Police spokeswoman Jennie Lopez told the Daily Mail that Holland was arraigned in Cambridge District Court on October 2.
A not guilty plea was entered on his behalf. He was ordered held ahead of a hearing scheduled for October 16, NBC Boston reported.
When first responders reached the locker room, one gym member was taken to a hospital for evaluation. Holland was subsequently arrested at the scene.
Prosecutors reportedly told the court that police interviewed both women at the Planet Fitness facility.
The first woman told police that Holland allegedly struck her several times and touched her inappropriately without her consent. She also said he partially removed her clothing and restrained her inside one of the gym’s rooms.
Laquan Holland, 40, was arrested by Cambridge Police after allegedly sexually assaulting multiple people inside a Planet Fitness locker room on Thursday morning
The Planet Fitness gym occupied the ground floor of Lesley University Hall, a building containing other private businesses that are readily accessible to the public
The second woman allegedly heard the first victim calling for help and saw the two people partially nude before trying to intervene. She told police that Holland then touched her without consent and tried to make her touch his body.
One Planet Fitness customer said news of the alleged locker room assault has made her feel she must be more vigilant while using the facility.
‘I’ve always felt safe. Now that I’ve heard that this has happened, I’ll definitely have to look behind my back,’ Dr Yena Do, a Planet Fitness customer, told CBS News.
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‘Which is not a great feeling. I’m going there to work out, undressing out of my scrubs and get into my workout clothes. I’m definitely going to think about that,’ she said.
The Planet Fitness location was on the bottom floor of Lesley University Hall, which also housed other private businesses open and accessible to members of the public.
‘It’s horrible. I feel like it’s a big tragedy. Everyone should be able to feel safe and secure wherever they are,’ Sophia Holloway, a Lesley University student, told the outlet.
‘Women out here face such hardships, and I think that the world needs to know that it’s not OK,’ she said.
Lesley University said the Planet Fitness incident involved a private business and did not involve any of the university’s students or staff members.
Holland was arraigned in Cambridge District Court on October 2, Cambridge Police spokeswoman Jennie Lopez told the Daily Mail
‘As an urban campus, Lesley University and our on campus public safety teamwork with Cambridge Police Department in supporting a safe environment for our students, staff and community in and around our building,’ a Lesley University spokesperson said in a statement.
Since the incident, Planet Fitness has stated that Holland’s gym membership was canceled.
‘Planet Fitness is committed to providing a safe environment for all. The franchise group has canceled the membership of the individual involved and is working with local law enforcement to support their investigation into this matter,’ said a Planet Fitness statement.
According to a Cambridge Police Department daily log report viewed by the Daily Mail, Holland was previously arrested on August 25 for failure to register as a sex offender.
It is unclear at this time if Holland has retained an attorney.
The Daily Mail has reached out to a Planet Fitness spokesperson and Lesley University for comment.