The University Record, November 13, 1995

POLICE BEAT

By Rebecca A. Doyle

Armed robbery
under investigation
An Oct. 31 armed robbery at the Michigan Union is under investigation, according to Capt. James R. Smiley, Department of Public Safety (DPS). Smiley says the investigation is focusing on several juveniles and may be gang-related.

Woman arrested
in computer theft
A 20-year-old woman affiliated with the University was arrested and arraigned Oct. 16 on a charge of embezzlement over $100, a felony carrying a sentence of up to 10 years.

Sometime between May 4 and May 12, the woman falsified a purchase order for a computer worth approximately $1,500. The incident was reported June 9 and the computer was seized June 23.

Smiley says DPS "put a lot of leg-work into this case" because it involved the use of electronic purchase requests and tracing shipping events.

The incident was reported by officials in the Space Research Building.

Woman pleads guilty
to fraud charges
A 30-year-old woman, who was affiliated with the University, has pleaded guilty to a charge of obtaining money under false pretenses, punishable by up to five years in prison. She manipulated School of Business Administration payroll information and over a nine-month period garnered $8,200 for herself. She entered her plea Nov 1. Sentencing will take place in December.

Sexual assault trial set for Jan. 2
A Jan. 2 trial date has been set for a 35-year-old male charged with criminal sexual assault, fourth degree (sexual contact), stemming from an incident that took place at the Med Inn at University Hospital on June 13. The misdemeanor charge carries a penalty of up to two years in prison, a fine of up to $500, or both. The suspect, who is affiliated with the University, had a preliminary exam on Oct. 25 in 15th District Court and was bound over for trial. The pre-trial conference is set for Nov. 30.

Suspect arraigned on
assault and battery charge
An 18-year-old male was arraigned Nov. 6 in 15th District Court on assault and battery charges stemming from an incident that took place Nov. 5 in Markley Residence Hall. Two individuals, both affiliated with the University, were fighting, and a knife was drawn. There were no injuries.

Jerseys taken from M-Den
DPS officers continue to investigate an alleged retail fraud II (also known as shoplifting) by a 17-year-old youth not affiliated with the University that involves the theft of two football jerseys from the M-Den trailer inside Michigan Stadium during the Oct. 28 football game. The suspect was chased and apprehended after he was seen taking the jerseys, valued at $32 each. Retail fraud is a misdemeanor carrying a penalty of up to 93 days and/or a fine of up to $100.

DPS assists in
construction accident
DPS officers responded to a call for assistance Oct. 7 at the construction site of the new East Medical Campus on Plymouth Road. A 33 year-old male construction worker from South Lyon had been run over by a 17,000-pound high-low and was transported to St. Joseph Hospital in extremely critical condition. He was reported to be improving late last week.

X Car thefts up;
graffiti a problem
Smiley notes that car thefts, which totaled seven in October, seem to be on the upswing. Two were stolen from the Hill Street Structure and two from lot SC-7, which is located in front of Revelli Hall on Hoover Ave. A 1989 Jeep Cherokee, 1994 Mustang convertible and 1993 Bravada were among the stolen vehicles.

Also increasing recently are incidents of graffiti in parking structures and lots that Smiley says seem to be gang-related. The most recent were in the Catherine Street Structure and lot W13, which is located on the north side of the Student Activities Building.

X-ray machine theft investigated
DPS is investigating the theft of a $6,000 X-ray machine from the oral surgery unit at University Hospital. The theft took place between Oct. 19 and Oct. 26 and was reported Oct. 26.