By Mary Jo Frank
Fight leads to arrest
A 20-year-old man who is not affiliated with the University is in the Genesse County jail after being apprehended by Department of Public Safety (DPS) officers following a fight at 1 a.m. Nov. 23 in a resident’s room at Mary Markley Residence Hall.
While investigating the altercation that involved six individuals, DPS discovered that one had an outstanding felony warrant from Davidson Township for assault with a dangerous weapon. DPS turned the man over to the Genesee County Sheriff.
Baby-sitter arrested in child’s death
James Mark Chatman, 31, a part-time college student and former U-M employee who is not now affiliated with the U-M, was arrested Dec. 1 and charged with second-degree murder and first-degree child abuse in the Aug. 31 death of 2-year-old Jaylon Jones, a Family Housing resident.
Chatman was baby-sitting the son of Yvette Jones, a U-M Hospitals employee, when police responded to an emergency call that the boy had stopped breathing. The boy was pronounced dead two hours after being admitted to the hospital. An autopsy report concluded that the child died of multiple traumas to his head.
Capt. James R. Smiley says Chatman is being held in the Washtenaw County Jail in lieu of posting $50,000 bond. The maximum penalties for the two charges are 15 years in prison for first-degree child abuse and life in prison for second-degree murder.
East Engineering fire being investigated
Smiley reports that DPS is investigating a fire that broke out at 5 a.m. Nov. 22 in the East Engineering Building, which is being renovated. Damage is estimated at $100,000, he says.
Materials found near where the fire broke out have been sent to the Michigan State Police Crime Laboratory for analysis. The Ann Arbor Fire Marshal is also participating in the investigation.
Going home for the holidays? Safeguard valuables first
Noting that audiovisual equipment is popular with thieves, Sgt. David A. Betts suggests faculty and staff take their portable valuables, including radios, tape players or compact disc players, home for the holidays for safe keeping.
Portable University property, including VCRs and cameras, should be locked in a secure closet, says Betts, DPS’s crime prevention coordinator. Any money should also be locked up if it can’t be removed from the premises.
Before leaving, make sure all windows and doors are locked and that all coffee pots and hot plates are unplugged as well as turned off.
“We will be out and about in the buildings,” Betts says. Faculty and staff who come in to work during the holidays should have their U-M ID card and a driver’s license or second piece of identification because officers will be asking to see ID.
He also warns employees who are in University buildings to be alert for suspicious people and to take security precautions similar to what they would do if working late in the evening. Arrange to meet people at a certain time at a door; don’t prop doors open, Betts adds. Report any suspicious persons or unusual activity to DPS, 763-1131.
