Campus Watch: Below is a summary of campus activity reported to or observed by the University Police Department patrol officers between Thursday, 01/28/10 and Friday, 01/29/10. ****Safety Concern**** Last weeks reports included two collisions involving bicyclists. In one report a bicyclist struck a pedestrian in a crosswalk after passing a bus that had stopped to yield to the pedestrian the bicyclist subsequently struck. In that case, the pedestrian was knocked to the ground. In the second case, a bicyclist struck a car after the bicyclist ran a stop sign. In this case, it was the bicyclist that struck the ground. Fortunately, there were no serious injuries in either collision. Please do not take this alert to mean bicyclists are the cause of every collision – they are not. Say what you want about the way pedestrians jump out into the middle of the roadway or the way cars speed down the roadway or the way bicyclists maneuver through traffic; we all share a responsibility for roadway safety. To help prevent needless collisions, we should all consider the following: - Pedestrians: Do not walk down the middle of the roadway or cross the street midblock. Bicyclists and the drivers of cars do not expect to see pedestrians in the roadway accept at crosswalks. You should also be mindful of the fact that cars outweigh you, so even if you have the right-of-way remember the driver of a car may not see you. - Bicyclists: Keep in mind you are a vehicle in the State of Texas. That being said you are required to follow the same rules as any other motorist. Drive in the right most traffic lane or in a bicycle lane if it is provided, stop at stop signs, yield when required to do so, do not speed etc, etc, etc. For your own safety, wear a helmet and ride like you believe the drivers of cars can't see you. - Drivers of Motor Vehicles: Slow down, be patient, no texting, turn the radio down, check your blind spots, follow the traffic laws – oh and did I mention SLOW DOWN? ALMETRIS DUREN HALL, 2624 Whitis Ave Public Intoxication: A UT staff member reported two unidentified females were helping a third, highly intoxicated female into the dorm. The staff member reported the subject was going into and out of consciousness. The officer located the subject and began assisting the subject to a chair. The officer soon realized he was standing in the “Splash Zone†when the subject began having an extreme physical reaction to the over-consumption of alcohol. Austin EMS arrived at the scene and began treating the subject for alcohol poisoning. The subject informed the officer that she had been drinking vodka at a fraternity. The subject was transported to a local area hospital for additional treatment. Charges for Public Intoxication are pending. Occurred on: 1-31-10, at 12:22 AM. AT&T CONFERENCE CENTER, 1900 University Ave Suspicious Person: An unknown subject was reported entering the loading dock area and removing items from the dumpster. The unknown subject was described as: White male, 5'-08â€, last seen wearing a grey hooded sweatshirt and carrying a white backpack. Occurred on: 1-31-10, at 9:59 PM. AT&T CONFERENCE CENTER, 1900 University Ave Criminal Trespass Warning: A UT staff member notified the Police Department he had located the same subject that had entered into the AT&T Conference Center's loading dock and had been seen removing items from the dumpster. The staff member stated the subject had gone across the street and was sleeping under a stairwell of the Dobie Center Parking Garage. Officers located the subject and issued him a written Criminal Trespass Warning. Occurred on: 1-31-10, at 11:18 PM. BELMONT HALL, 2109 San Jacinto Blvd Burglary of Coin-Operated Machine: A UT staff member discovered an unknown subject had pried open a coin-operated machine, located inside a 10th floor women's restroom and had removed an unknown amount of coins and product. Loss Value: Unknown at this time. Discovered on: 1-29-10, at 10:53 AM. BLANTON DORMITORY, 2500 University Ave. Possession of Marijuana / Possession of Drug Paraphernalia : A UT staff member reported a strong odor of burning marijuana coming from a 4th floor dormitory room. During the investigation, the officers confirmed an odor of marijuana was coming from the same 4th floor room. The officers located both residents and four other UT students inside the room. The officers observed in plain view a small green colored pipe that contained burned residue in the bowl. One student claimed it was a lavender and herbal vaporizer. After the discovery of the marijuana pipe, the officer noticed a clear plastic baggie sticking out from under the bed. The baggie contained a green leafy substance the officers recognized as marijuana. The second resident granted the officers consent to search the remainder of the dorm room and helped to expedite it by showing the officers where he had stored his marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Both residents were issued field release citations for Possession of Marijuana / Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Two of the guests were also charged Possession of Drug Paraphernalia when additional drug paraphernalia was discovered hidden inside the room. Occurred on: 1-31-10, at 11:57 PM. BRAZOS PARKING GARAGE: 200 Martin Luther King Blvd. Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol by a Minor: A UT police officer located a vehicle parked on the 5th level of the garage with the engine running. The officer observed a UT student slumped over sleeping in the driver's seat. During the investigation, the officer detected a moderate odor of alcohol on the student's breath and learned he was under the legal age of 21. The officer issued the subject a field release citation for Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol by a Minor. Occurred on: 1-31-10, at 8:30 AM. COLORADO APARTMENTS, 2501 Lake Austin Blvd. Burglary of Motor Vehicle (2 Counts): Two UT students reported the passenger side windows of a Toyota Corolla and a Chevy SUV had been broken out. During the investigation, the officer learned the stereo systems had been removed from both vehicles. Total property loss value: $200.00. Estimated damage: $500.00. Occurred between: 1-30-10, at 6:00 PM and 1-31-10, at 10:00 AM. GREGORY GYM, 2101 Speedway Theft: A UT student reported the theft of his Prada wallet, personal identification and several credit cards from the third floor basketball courts. The officer learned the subject had placed his wallet next to the basketball court while he was officiating the game. After the conclusion of the game, the subject discovered his property was gone. Loss value: $400.00. Occurred on: 1-31-10, between 2:30 PM and 3:30 PM. Crime Prevention Tip: One word… Opportunity. As long as we create the opportunity for thieves to be successful, they will continue to steal---your property. JESTER EAST DORMITORY, 203 East 21st Street Disorderly Conduct-Fighting: UT staff members and students reported several subjects were fighting on the 6th floor of the dormitory near the elevator lobby. When the officers arrived in the area all of the combatants had left. During the investigation, the officers were able to locate two of the suspects that were involved in the fisticuffs. One subject was found to have a small cut over his eye. As the investigation continued, the officers learned both subjects had been exchanging insults and name calling each other while riding on the elevator. The name calling and insults escalated to a free for all. Austin EMS was notified and treated the injured subject at the scene. Both subjects refused to file charges and each received a referral to the Dean of Student's Office. Occurred on: 1-31-10, at 4:07 AM. JESTER WEST DORMITORY, 201 East 21st Street Assault with Injuries / Possession of a Fictitious DL / Consumption of Alcohol by a Minor / Public Intoxication: UT staff members reported a suspicious person who had a head injury and was attempting to enter the dormitory. The officers located a subject sitting near the information desk crying. The officers detected a very strong odor of alcohol the subject's breath. The student admitted going out with his friends, but he had not been drinking any alcohol. The subject had a small laceration on his forehead. The officers learned that when the subject had walked through a Cricket game, the group of players became angry that the subject had disrupted their game and struck him with a mallet. As the subject was presenting the officer with a driver's license, the subject revealed he was carrying a not so legal driver's license that had promoted him to the age of 21. The subject declined to file charges for Assault on the unknown subject who had struck him. However charges for Possession of a Fictitious DL / Consumption of Alcohol by a Minor / Public Intoxication are pending. Occurred on: 1-31-10, at 2:55 AM. JESTER WEST DORMITORY, 201 East 21st Street Possession of Marijuana: A UT staff member detected the odor of burning marijuana coming from a 10th floor dormitory room. When the officers arrived, the officers detected a pleasant but heavy aroma of Febreez. The officer located two UT students inside the room and observed in plain view a small pile of marijuana sitting on top of a desk. During a search of the room, the officers located a marijuana pipe and a homemade filtering system. The student whose side all of the above described items were located on received a field release citation for Possession of Marijuana. In addition to the law enforcement actions taken, the student was referred to the Dean of Student's Office. Occurred on: 1-29-10, at 2:04 AM. NANO SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY BUILDING, 102 East 24th Street Theft: A gold and white colored Trek 7200 mountain bicycle was stolen from the bike racks located on the north side of the building after being secured with a U-shaped lock. Loss value: $300.00. Occurred on: 1-29-10, between 12:01 PM and 6:00 PM. PERRY-CASTENEDA LIBRARY, 101 East 21st Street Criminal Trespass Warning: A UT staff member discovered a non-UT subject sleeping inside a restricted area. During the investigation, the subject was located and was issued a written Criminal Trespass Warning. The subject was escorted from the area. Occurred on: 1-30-10, at 11:12 PM. SUTTON HALL, 210 WEST 21st STREET Criminal Trespass: A UT staff member reported seeing a non-UT subject attempting to gain entry into the building by pulling on all of the exterior doors and looking to various windows. When the subject was unable to gain entry, he sat down next to the south exterior doors and appeared to be waiting. During the investigation, the officers were able to locate the subject. Officers learned the subject had received 7 prior written Criminal Trespass Warnings for a Varity of buildings on campus. The subject was taken into custody for Criminal Trespass and was transported to Central Booking. In addition to the law enforcement action taken, the subject was issued his 8th Criminal Trespass Warning. Occurred on: 1-29-10, at 3:09 AM. WALTER WEBB HALL, 2500 Guadalupe Criminal Trespass Warning / Possession of Drug Paraphernalia: Two non-UT subjects were discovered behind a construction fence. During the investigation, the officer discovered one subject was in possession of a hypodermic syringe that he used to inject Heroin. The syringe was carefully seized. Both subjects were issued Criminal Trespass Warnings. Occurred on: 1-30-10, at 9:12 PM. WINSHIP DRAMA BUILDING, 300 23rd Street Graffiti: Words written in black magic marker were discovered on the support columns of the pedestrian bridge. Discovered on: 1-31-10, at 8:20 AM. 200 BLOCK WEST 6th STREET Public Intoxication: A non-UT subject reported there was an intoxicated person passed out. The officer located the subject attempting to utilize the side of a building to maintain his balance while stumbling. The officer detected a very strong odor of alcohol on the subject's breath and noted his clothes were disheveled. The subject was confrontational and attempted to educate the officer in the proper use of four letter words. The subject was taken into custody for Public Intoxication and was transported to Central Booking. Occurred on: 1-30-10, at 2:05 AM. 200 BLOCK WEST 21st STREET Driving While Intoxicated: A silver Jeep was observed exceeding the posted speed limit. During the traffic investigation, the officer detected a moderate odor of alcohol on the driver's breath. The UT student driver informed the officer that it had been over an hour since he had last consumed any alcohol. The officer administered the Standardized Field Sobriety Tests. The subject displayed several clues that indicated he was intoxicated. The subject was taken into custody for Driving While Intoxicated and was transported to Central Booking. Occurred on: 1-31-10, at 3:28 AM. 400 BLOCK EAST 23rd STREET Unlawful Restraint / Interference with the Duties of a Public Servant: A UT student stopped a UT police officer and reported a male and female were fighting on the north side of the football stadium. The officers located the fighting couple and learned the non-UT male subject had refused to allow the female UT student to leave. The non-UT subject was taken into custody for Unlawful Restraint and was transported to Central Booking. The female UT student became upset with the arrest and attempted to interfere with the officers. The student was taken into custody and later released with a referral to the Dean of Student's Office. Occurred on: 1-31-10, at 6:20 PM. 2300 BLOCK SPEEDWAY Consumption of Alcohol by a Minor: A UT student was observed staggering and swaying to a point that she was missing all of her navigational beacons. The subject needed a supporting cast of two friends to ensure she did not fall. During the investigation, the officer learned the subject was under the legal age of 21 and had been to a fraternity party located in the 2600 block of San Jacinto Blvd. The student was issued a field release citation for Consumption of Alcohol by a Minor and was released to her friends. Occurred on: 1-31-10, at 1:00 AM. CAMPUS WIDE: Non-Criminal Calls: In addition to the above criminal cases, the University of Texas Police Department responded to 28 alarm calls, 3 fire alarm activations, 5 callbox reports, 1 welfare concern report, 3 suspicious activity reports, 1 medical emergency assist, 3 suspicious odor reports, 6 public assistance requests, 2 found property reports, and 12 unsecured door reports between 01/29/10 and 02/01/10. Contact UT Police at 471-4441 if you have any information regarding any of the above incidents or call 911 regarding suspicious persons, suspicious activities or crime. Your call may help solve or prevent a crime. Campus Watch comments should be directed to Officer Darrell Halstead at 512-232-9634 or via e-mail to Darrell.halstead@austin.utexas.edu. You may also direct comments to Officer William Pieper at 512-232-9638 or by e-mail at photocop@mail.utexas.edu. Prepared by DWH To subscribe or unsubscribe, visit http://www.utexas.edu/police/campuswatch/subscribe.php
