A Whatcom County employee has been arrested for allegedly raping a Western Washington University student in early December.

The Bellingham Herald reported 37-year-old Timothy Alexander Kennedy was arrested on suspicion of second-degree rape Sunday. An official says Kennedy has been employed as a planner with the Whatcom County Planning & Development Services Department since 2013.

The female student told police Kennedy forced her to have sex in her dormitory room after she declined several times. The woman says she met Kennedy through an online dating app. Kennedy’s arraignment is scheduled for Jan. 31.