UTPD Announcements: FREE PIZZA! We want you to call 9-1-1 anytime you feel unsafe, and if you do—you just might get a free pizza! Under our new Safer by the Slice program, certain crime tips, or life-saving intervention will be rewarded with a free 16-inch pizza redeemable at Jester City Limits. It’s our way of saying thank you. Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events training, November 11th, 12- 1p.m. Avaya Auditorium Officers will discuss active shooter events and provide options that adhere to the Run, Hide, Fight protocol. Learn how to take life-saving action and what to expect from UTPD in these situations. View all UTPD class offerings here. 10/11/2019, 5:06 p.m., 2525 San Jacinto Blvd. Assault: UTPD responded to a call that a student was touched in a “hug-like manner” without her consent at a bus stop. Further investigation found that the perpetrator was yelling on a bus and following women and invading their personal space. The suspect description matched that of an incident that occurred on 10/10 in the same area. A female student in that case reported being touched on the leg. Officers continue looking for the suspect who is described as a younger-looking black male, 5'10" in height, with no facial hair and dreadlocks. He was last seen on 10/11 wearing a blue jacket over a gray hooded sweatshirt and jeans. Safety Tip: Any unwanted and deliberate physical contact constitutes assault and UTPD takes this crime very seriously. Our investigation of this matter is ongoing. We recommend students look into our Rape Aggression Defense Classes and consider carrying pepper spray. If you do purchase pepper spray, give the bottle a test spray (outdoors, please) so you don’t have to figure out how to operate it under stress. It is never okay to be touched without consent. 10/9/2019, 9:59 p.m., 1601 Trinity St. (Dell Medical School Health and Transformation Building) Criminal Trespass: The building’s security guard called UTPD to tell us that the same man he can contacted UTPD about the previous day was back walking through the building. The same officer arrived and recognized the non-UT affiliated man he had issued a Criminal Trespass Warning to the previous day. He placed the man under arrest and brought him to Travis County Jail. At the jail, the man explained to the officer he didn’t think we would have entered the warning into the computer yet. Safety Tip: UTPD gives warnings for many kinds of behavior. If we tell someone that they are subject to a ticket or arrest if they continue their behavior, we mean it. For most of our police work, the officer working the street completes his paperwork before he leaves work. Our technology includes handheld devices and modern records management software to make it easier for officers to complete these tasks quickly and accurately. 10/7/2019, 6:58 a.m., 204 E. Dean Keeton St. (Engineering and Teaching Center) Warrant Arrest: A non-UT affiliate was sleeping on the floor of a restroom in the building and an employee gave UTPD a call. Camping without authorization is a violation of the University of Texas Regent’s Rules. Officers generally issue a Criminal Trespass Warning for the offense. In this situation, when issuing the warning, officers found the man had warrants for his arrest. Officers arrested the man and found drug paraphernalia on him that the man said he used for methamphetamine. He was told he would be subject to arrest again if he returned to campus. Each of these three incidents were selected because they represent a person calling UTPD to report a suspicious person. They show how the collaboration between witnesses and the police is very important for the university community’s safety. When you see someone suspicious, the most important thing is to ensure your safety. In most situations, going where other people are can achieve this. It’s critical that you call UTPD as soon as possible. You can dial 9-1-1 for any situation that makes you feel unsafe. Staying in the area and making a police report makes UTPD’s job easier and more successful. Your actions have a direct impact on safety. Consider if preventing what you saw from happening again is worth an investment of your time, and usually the answer is “yes.” When describing a suspicious person or suspect, think head to toe, and systematically take note of how you’d describe them. The head includes hats, the body includes jackets and clothing, and take note of shoes and bags. It’s also important to know his or her direction of travel. The most important detail to tell the dispatcher is your exact location, so quiz yourself on where you are from time to time. Don’t forget to connect with UTPD via Twitter and Facebook, and remember you can reach out to your campus District Representative with any non-emergency concerns or questions you have. Other great social media resources include the Twitter feeds for UT Austin’s Office of Campus Safety and the Austin Police Department. To view our official crime log, visit: https://utdirect.utexas.edu/apps/fasweb/utpd/nlogon/crimelog/
