By Mary Jo Frank
Stalking legislation gives police new tool
The Department of Public Safety has received two complaints under Michigan’s new stalking laws, which became effective Jan. 1, reports Lt. James R. Smiley.
Stalking is a misdeamenor with a penalty of one year in jail and/or $1,000 fine. Stalking consists of two or more separate acts of unconsented contact between the stalker and the victim. The acts must be done willfully in a manner that would cause a reasonable person to suffer emotional distress and to feel terrorized, frightened, intimidated, threatened, harassed or molested.
Aggravated stalking is a felony with a penalty of up to five years in jail and/or $10,000 fine. Aggravated stalking is stalking that occurs in violation of a restraining order or a bail or probation condition; a second offense; or a stalking involving a credible threat of violence against the victim, the victim’s family or members of the victim’s household.
A person can obtain an injunctive order against a stalker and an officer may make a warrantless arrest for a violation of the injunction.
Faculty member charged with indecent exposure
A 50-year-old associate professor of biology has been arrested and arraigned in Ann Arbor’s 15th District Court on
charges of indecent exposure and as a disorderly person, indecent exposure, in an incident at the Harlan Hatcher Graduate Library. The faculty member allegedly masturbated in front of a library user, who reported the incident to a library staff member. Through talking to witnesses University Police officers were able to identify and apprehend the faculty member.
A pre-trial hearing is scheduled Feb. 23 in Washtenaw Circuit Court.
Student arrested for car theft, carrying weapon
A 23-year-old sophomore from Arkansas was arrested by University Police on a fugitive warrant Jan. 27 in the Undergraduate Library.
The student, who was wanted by the Wayne County Sheriff’s Department for stealing a car and for carrying a concealed weapon, has been turned over to that department.
Detroit woman arrested for writing bad checks
A former Eastern Michigan University student was arrested Jan. 29 for writing non-sufficent funds checks on a closed checking account. The checks were cashed at the Michigan Union.
The 24-year-old Detroit woman is awaiting preliminary examination in Ann Arbor’s 15th District Court. Writing non-sufficient funds checks is a felony and can result in a five-year sentence.
First-year student steals parking permit
A first-year student from Toledo, Ohio, was arrested Jan. 19 for breaking and entering an automobile parked in the Hill Street parking structure.
The 19-year-old LS&A student allegedly broke into the automobile in September, stole the hang tag parking permit valued at $349 from a staff member’s car and was using the permit.
After arraignment in Ann Arbor’s 15th District Court, the student was released on personal bond. Her trial is pending in Washtenaw Circuit Court. Breaking and entering an automobile is a felony and can result in a five-year sentence.
