Crime alert issued for assault
The Department of Public Safety (DPS) continues to seek information about an assault reported Oct. 28 near the Frieze Building on East Washington Street. The suspect reportedly jumped out from behind bushes around 6:15 p.m. and fondled a female student. She was able to break free and flee the area.
DPS issued a crime alert that listed the suspect’s description as a white male, about 25-35 years old, 5 feet 10 inches to 6 feet tall, about 150 pounds, with dark, spiked hair. He was seen last wearing a dark blue or black, puffy, waist-length jacket.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact DPS at (734) 763-1131 or the University’s Anonymous Tip Line at (800) 863-1355.
DPS, WCC offer rewards
DPS and officials at Washtenaw Community College (WCC) are offering rewards for information leading to the recovery of recently stolen LCD projectors and the arrest of individuals responsible for the thefts. Ten projectors valued at $50,000 have been stolen from U-M buildings since April, while WCC has experienced 11 thefts valued at $35,000 since July.
Anyone with information is asked to contact DPS at (734) 763-1131, the University’s Anonymous Tip Line at (800) 863-1355, WCC’s tip line at (734) 677-5343 or the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Confidential Tip Line at (734) 973-7711.
Four other sexual assaults reported
In addition to the Oct. 28 incident detailed above, four additional sexual assaults were reported to DPS in October, though none of the others involved strangers.
On Oct. 9, an employee at the Holden Women’s Hospital reported she had been touched inappropriately by a co-worker. On Oct. 20, a woman reported to DPS that she had been assaulted by a family member the previous month when she and the family member were visiting her child in Mott Children’s Hospital. An East Quad resident reported Oct. 23 that she had been assaulted by another student.
A man reported Oct. 23 that he had been sleeping on a sidewalk grate near the C.C. Little Building when he woke to find an acquaintance fondling him. All four cases remain under investigation.
Three reports filed for aggravated assault
A campus visitor was arrested Oct. 30 for aggravated assault after he was observed by a police officer pointing a gun at other pedestrians on Hill Street. The officer drew his own weapon and demanded the man put down his gun. Upon further investigation, it was determined the gun was a high-quality replica that fires BBs. The man was released pending authorization from the prosecutor’s office.
A student reported Oct. 17 that she had sustained minor cuts on her arm when a classmate was playing with an Xacto knife. The victim did not seek medical treatment and did not want to press charges. The incident was turned over to staff for administrative review.
Two employees escaped being hit by a coworker driving a pick-up truck at a high rate of speed Oct. 28 in the Fletcher Street parking structure. DPS continues to investigate the incident.
Three men arrested for burglaries
Two men pleaded guilty Oct. 4 to breaking and entering with intent to commit a larceny, a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison, in connection with a burglary Oct. 1 at the Art and Architecture Building. Jonathan Stefl, 22, of Ann Arbor, and Fred Westerh, 33, of Ypsilanti, were released on probation pending their sentencing hearing Nov. 19. The two men, neither affiliated with the University, were observed on videotape carrying stolen equipment after staff had reported that office windows had been smashed and computer equipment was missing. Both men also are being investigated in connection with other campus burglaries.
Joseph Hsu, 21, of Troy, was bound over to Circuit Court Oct. 15 in connection with breaking into the LSA Building Oct. 3. Police officers found Hsu in the building at 1:44 a.m. after receiving a call of a crime in progress. Hsu is charged with two felonies—breaking and entering with intent to commit a larceny and miscellaneous destruction of property (MDOP)—and one misdemeanor, also MDOP. Hsu is out of jail after posting $1,000 cash bond.
Student room illegally entered
A Stockwell Hall resident was the victim of an illegal entry when an acquaintance forced his way into the student’s room. The visitor also disconnected the phone each time the student attempted to call police. Multiple charges against the visitor have been sought from the prosecutor’s office.
Burglaries reported at League, Union
Staff at Tim Horton’s in the Michigan League reported Oct. 26 that a donation box had been stolen from their counter after the security gate had been pried open.
Michigan Union staff reported Oct. 24 that the door to the roof and a window screen had been damaged when someone apparently attempted to steal the flag from the roof.
DPS continues to investigate both incidents.
Can collector robbed
A man picking up discarded cans and bottles on the Michigan Golf Course during the Oct. 18 football game reported being threatened with a miniature baseball bat by three youths, who tried to steal his bag of cans. A 15-year-old Ann Arbor boy and a 16-year-old Ypsilanti boy were released to their parents. The third suspect, a 17-year-old from Ypsilanti, was arrested on an outstanding warrant from another jurisdiction.
Suspect in bomb threat arrested
Chiketa Brown, 43, of Ypsilanti, was arraigned Oct. 23 on felony charges of making a false bomb threat and use of a computer while committing a crime in connection with an incident Sept. 10 at the University Health Service (UHS). Brown reportedly e-mailed staff at UHS indicating a bomb had been placed under a chair. Staff evacuated the building while DPS conducted a search. No bomb was found. The two felonies carry penalties of seven years and/or a $5,000 fine for computer use and four years and/or a $2,000 fine for the bomb threat.
