Sex assault in Warehouse District?

AUSTIN (KXAN) - An investigation is now underway after a mother of three said two men sexually assaulted her as she was leaving a downtown Austin Bar. Police responded to the 300 block of Lavaca around 1 a.m. Friday. That's the alley behind Qua , which is located at 213 W. 4th St.

"Someone dropped her on the cement in the alley in the dark,” said Alicia Hawley, the friend of the alleged victim, who chose not to reveal her identity. “It's a horrible feeling, finding your friend laying in the gutter."

Around 12:30 a.m. Thursday, Hawley's 38th birthday celebration was wrapping up at Qua, the bar known for its shark tank dance floor. As she went to close out her tab, she said the bouncer escorted her friend out the back entrance.

"The bouncer saw her passed out and said we need to remove her from here,” she explained, “and I said, 'Why? I'll just go pay, and we'll go.'"

As the group broke up, Hawley said she was concerned for her friend, who didn't drink that much. She added that the circle of six women shared a bottle of champagne and a few shots.

"The bouncer said, 'She's okay. She's right here. I have my eye on her,’" Hawley continued.

Hawley said, when she made her way to the alley, her friend was on the ground, saying she'd been assaulted with the bouncer present. Hawley also said she believes two other Qua workers are responsible.

"She felt them putting her hand down her pants and feeling around, I guess I should say."

The group remained at the scene until 3:30 a.m., as Austin Police opened the sexual assault case.

"Circumstances around the case have not been investigated,” said Cpl. Scott Perry, “so just because that's what a case is titled at this time does not mean that is what has occurred."

Police would not provide the woman's report because of the nature of the allegation.

"All of that information is not public information," said Perry.

A spokesperson for the bar's parent company, Yassine Enterprises, told KXAN it was not aware of the report but that it is common for bar staff to take extremely intoxicated customers out the back entrance.

"Here's my friend that I asked to a birthday party,” Hawley said, “and something horrible happened to her. I think we all feel something horrible happened to all of us."

Hawley said her friend will need counseling and is waiting for toxicology results. At this time, police say this is an active investigation.