Report for 09/18/2012


Campus Watch: Below is a summary of campus activity reported to or observed by the University Police Department between Wednesday, 09/12/12 and Tuesday, 09/18/12. ADMINISTRATIVE MESSAGES Due to the events of Friday 9-14-12, the UT Police Department would like to remind everyone about the *57 feature on all UT phones. A security feature has been installed on most all UT phone lines that will capture Caller ID information even if a caller has blocked that information. The feature increases the security of all UT faculty, staff and dormitory residents by helping law enforcement officials locate the origin of threatening or harassing phone calls. This feature should only be used to identify a phone number if the call is threatening or harassing. Using Call Trace should be considered the same as filing a complaint with UTPD. To activate the feature from a single line phone or key 1 of a multi-button phone: • Press *57 (star-five-seven) immediately following a threatening or harassing phone call, and before making another call. To activate the feature that is assigned on a multi-button phone to a key other than key 1: • Press the directory number (DN) key and then enter the COT feature activation code *57 immediately following a threatening or harassing phone call, and before making another call. You will hear the message “You have successfully traced your last incoming call”. This automatically records the calling number in an electronic log at UTPD even if it is blocked from Caller ID. After activating Call Trace, you should then contact UTPD at 471-4441. Since this information is considered confidential, it can only be viewed by the University’s law enforcement agency. The University of Texas Police Department is now excepting applications for the upcoming Citizens Police Academy. For more information contact Captain Don Verett. UT’s Counseling and Mental Health Center Announces Suicide Prevention Week 2012 Suicide is considered to be the second leading cause of death for college students. That’s why the Counseling and Mental Health Center is organizing UT’s annual Suicide Prevention Week (September 24-28). This week is focused on raising awareness about suicide and engaging students, faculty and staff in suicide prevention. All are urged to “Be That One” to recognize when their student or friend is thinking about suicide and connect them with the help they need. Throughout the week, 23 campus departments and organizations are sponsoring seven interactive programs as a call to action to prevent suicide within our campus community. For a full schedule of the week’s events and a complete list of counseling and mental health resources available to students, visit cmhc.utexas.edu BRACKENRIDGE DORMITORY, 207 East 21st Street On-Line Harassment: An unknown subject posted information about a current UT student onto Craig’s List. The student reported receiving a number of harassing and embarrassing text messages from those reading the ad Charges are pending. Reported on: 9-17-12, at 9:45 PM. BRACKENRIDGE DORMITORY, 207 East 21st Street Theft: A black and yellow mountain bike was stolen from the bike racks located on the north side of the building after being secured with a U-shaped lock. Loss value: $400.00. Reported on: 9-12-12, at 10:35 PM. JACKSON SCHOOL OF GEOLOGY, 2305 Speedway Assist Outside Agency: A UT Police Officer discovered a non-UT subject inside a restricted area of the building watching TV on a portable TV. The subject insisted he was a current staff member even though he was unable to provide any ID. During the investigation, the officers learned the subject had an outstanding Outside Agency arrest warrant. The subject was taken into custody and transported to Central Booking. Occurred on: 9-15-12, at 12:10 AM. JESTER WEST DORMITORY, 201 East 21st Street Theft: A UT staff member reported $134.00 in cash had been removed from her wallet. During the investigation, the officer learned the purse had been placed inside an unsecured locker located inside the staff locker room in the basement. Loss value: $134.00. Occurred on: 9-14-12 between 12:30 PM and 3:15 PM. PARLIN HALL, 208 West 21st Street Theft: A blue Diamondback mountain bicycle was reported stolen from the bike racks located on the east side of the building after being secured with a U-shaped lock. Loss value: $250.00. Occurred on: 9-13-12, between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM. PERRY-CASTANEDA LIBRARY. 101 East 21st Street Theft: A grey HP laptop computer was reported stolen after being left unattended inside the second floor coffee shop. Loss value: $500.00. Occurred on: 9-16-12, between 6:00 PM and 7:30 PM. UNION BUILDING, 2400 Guadalupe Criminal Trespass: A UT Police Officer recognized a known offender inside the Union Building. The officer approached the subject and took him into custody for Criminal Trespass. The subject was transported to Central Booking. Occurred on: 9-17-12, at 4:15 PM. WALTER WEBB HALL, 2500 Guadalupe Terroristic Threat: An unknown subject contacted the University of Texas and informed a UT staff member there was a bomb on campus. Charges are pending conclusion of investigations. Occurred on: 9-14-12, at 8:39 AM. 200 BLOCK WEST MARTIN LUTHER KING BLVD. Driving While Intoxicated: A UT Police Officer observed a white Honda strike the curb and damage the right front wheel, forcing the vehicle to stop. During the traffic investigation, the officer detected a strong odor of alcohol on the non-UT driver’s breath and noted the driver’s eyes were bloodshot and glassy. The officer asked the driver if he would exit the vehicle and inspect the damage to his vehicle. When he exited the vehicle, the driver needed to support himself. When asked how much alcohol he had consumed, the driver replied, “A lot.” The officer administered the Standardized Field Sobriety tests to the driver. The driver displayed a number of clues that indicated he was intoxicated. Occurred on: 9-17-12, at 2:20 AM. 200 BLOCK WEST 21st STREET Consumption of Alcohol by a Minor: Two non-UT subjects were seen involved in a physical confrontation. Both subjects stopped when the officers approached. The officers learned the confrontation started on a bus coming from the downtown area to campus. The confrontation continued after everyone exited the bus. During the investigation, the officers learned neither subject wanted to file assault charges. However, during the investigation, the officers learned one of the subjects involved had a strong odor of alcohol on his breath and was under the legal age of 21. The officer issued the subject a court appearance citation for Consumption of Alcohol by a Minor. Occurred on: 9-16-12, at 2:36 AM. 2200 BLOCK SAN ANTONIO Driving While Intoxicated / Prohibited Weapons: A UT Police Officer observed a black Mazda traveling without its headlamps turned on. During the traffic investigation, the officer detected a strong odor of alcohol on the driver’s breath. The officer noted other signs of intoxication and administered the Standardized Field Sobriety tests to the driver. The driver displayed a number of clues that indicated he was intoxicated. The driver was taken into custody for Driving While Intoxicated and transported to Central Booking. During a search of the subject’s vehicle, the officers discovered a pair of brass knuckles inside the glove box. The brass knuckles were confiscated and an additional charge for Prohibited Weapon was filed. Occurred on: 9-15-12, at 2:27 AM. 2500 BLOCK SPEEDWAY Theft: A white Specialized mountain bicycle was reported stolen from the bike racks located on the northeast side of the Norm Hackerman Building. Loss value: $600.00. Occurred between: 9-14-12, and 9-17-12. 2500 BLOCK SAN JACINTO BLVD Theft: A red and white Specialized mountain bicycle was stolen from the bike racks located on the west side of the dormitory after being secured with a self-locking cable lock. Loss value: $600.00. Occurred on: 9-13-12, between 12:30 PM and 1:30 PM. 2500 BLOCK SAN JACINTO BLVD Theft: A white and black Schwinn mountain bicycle was reported stolen from the bike racks located on the west side of the dormitory after being secured with a self-locking cable lock. Loss value: $150.00. Occurred between: 9-13-12 and 9-17-12. The University of Texas Police Department responded to 129 Alarm Calls, 10 Suspicious Activity Reports, 2 Suspicious Persons reports, 20 Unsecured Door reports between 09/12/12 and 09/18/12. To view a map of the campus visit: Are you a Fan of the University of Texas Police Department? Come join us on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/#!/utaustinpolice Online property registration. Items with a serial number such as laptops, MP3 players, cell phones, electronics, and bikes are eligible. Registering your property is very helpful in theft investigations and in returning lost property to its rightful owner. Without identifying information, recovering stolen property is virtually impossible. Logon to https://www.utexas.edu/police/property/ to register your property today. SURE Walk is a student-run volunteer group that provides walks to and from campus to UT students, faculty, and staff, with the help of student volunteers. Volunteers are gathered from trusted organizations from around campus, such as Orange Jackets and APO, and include both males and females. An agency of Student Government, SURE Walk is in service Monday through Thursday from 10 p.m. – 2 a.m. during the fall and spring semesters. To order a walk, call (512) 232-9255 or email orderasurewalk@gmail.com, and two volunteers, one male and one female, will meet you at your current location and walk you to your destination, whether it be on campus or in the greater campus neighborhoods. If you have any questions, concerns, or if your organization is interested in volunteering, please e-mail: texassurewalk@gmail.com. Lost and Found Property Did you lose something on campus? Please report your missing property to UTPD Lost and Found at http://www.utexas.edu/police/lostandfound. Or call 512-232-9619 and describe your item to us. If we have your item, we’ll contact you as quickly as possible to arrange its return to you. UTPD handles over 5000 lost and found items each year from campus departments, although we cannot accept clothing, food or drink containers, toiletries, broken or soiled property. Campus departments are encouraged to call 471-4441 to have UTPD pick up lost and found items that are unclaimed after one week. Emergency Text Message Service The University of Texas at Austin and its police department are responsible for notifying faculty, staff, and students of emergency situations (e.g., inclement weather, building evacuations, campus closures, etc.). The University employs a wide variety of tools to make sure everyone on campus is informed during an emergency event—including text messaging. In order to accomplish emergency text messaging more effectively, the University is collecting cell phone numbers from members of our campus community. Effective August 26, 2009, this database of cell phone numbers will be used for emergency text messages. Please complete the form at http://www.utexas.edu/cellphonealert so you will become an integral part of this important emergency notification system and help the university to achieve the highest standards of campus and community safety. Your cell phone number will not be used for. Campus Safety and Security at (512) 471-5767. Defensive Driving: Learn Defensive Driving from a UTPD Police Officer. UTPD generally schedules a Defensive Driving Class approximately once a month – based on need. The classes meet in the University Police Building, Room 1.318, located at 2201 Robert Dedman Dr (east of Memorial Stadium). The cost for the course is $25.00 (check or cash) payable on class date. If paying in cash, please bring the exact amount because change may not be available. You will also need to bring your driver's license. For more information, to check for the next available class time or to register on-line go to: http://www.utexas.edu/police/services/defensive_driving.php RAD Program For Women, Now Available (Classes are FREE) The RAD program is a 16-hour course of realistic self-defense tactics and techniques for women that cover assault prevention and risk reduction while progressing on to basic hands-on defense training. http://www.utexas.edu/police/rad/ Behavior Concerns Advice Line (BCAL) The Behavior Concerns Advice Line (BCAL) is a partnership among the Office of the Dean of Students, Counseling and Mental Health Center (CMHC), Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and the University of Texas Police Department (UTPD). BCAL provides a central resource for UT faculty, students, and staff who may have concerns about the behavior or well-being of another member of the campus community. By calling BCAL at 512-232-5050, callers may talk with trained staff members who will assist the caller in exploring available options and strategies as well as referrals to appropriate campus support networks. For more information on BCAL, visit the BCAL Web site at www.utexas.edu/safety/bcal or call 512-232-5050. If you are a faculty or staff member that has been affected by a crime, the UT Employee Assistance Program (471-3366) is available for counseling and referrals to other appropriate services. http://www.utexas.edu/hr/eap/ 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 Prepared by: DWH To subscribe or unsubscribe, visit http://www.utexas.edu/police/campuswatch/subscribe.php\