The University Record, November 19, 1997
By Rebecca A. Doyle
Tempers flare, so does hair
During the Sept. 27 football game against Notre Dame, an argument between a man and a woman escalated to a violent incident. The man took out his cigarette lighter and set the woman’s hair on fire. Her husband, who was seated farther up in the stands, confronted the man and a fistfight ensued, according to Department of Public Safety (DPS) Capt. James Smiley. All three were removed from the Stadium.
On Oct. 14, the man who used the lighter was arrested and charged with assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder, a felony that carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison. At a preliminary hearing Oct. 22, he pled not guilty. He later pled no contest to a reduced charge of assault with a deadly weapon, a felony punishable by up to five years in prison. A sentencing date has been set for Nov. 24.
Woman says friend ‘maced’ her
A woman has told DPS officers that she was robbed and sprayed with mace by her friend after they attended a concert. Neither woman is affiliated with the University. A felony warrant was issued Oct. 9 for the arrest of the woman who made the alleged assault, and she was arrested Oct. 10 and charged with assault with a deadly weapon. She appeared in 15th District Court on Oct. 22 and pled guilty to unlawful use of a chemical spray. Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 24.
Man hits woman with brick
On Nov. 5, a man and woman, neither affiliated with the University, began an early-morning fight outside a University parking structure near the Medical Campus. The man hit the woman in the face with a brick. He was arrested and charged with aggravated domestic violence, second offense, a felony that carries up to a two-year prison sentence. A preliminary hearing is scheduled today (Nov. 19).
Man charged with filing false report
DPS officers stringently investigated the report of a robbery Nov. 3 on the Diag because of the large number of people who frequent it. During their investigation, they discovered evidence that the man who reported it was not telling the truth.
When the man, who is not affiliated with the University, was confronted with the evidence, he admitted falsely reporting that he had been robbed of $61. DPS officers arrested him Nov. 5 and charged him with filing a false police report-felony. Filing a false police report is considered a felony if the crime falsely reported would be a felony.
The man stood mute at his arraignment, and a preliminary hearing is scheduled today (Nov. 19).
Sport-utility vehicles stolen
Smiley says a large number of sport-utility type vehicles have been reported stolen from University parking structures and surface lots. In October, six cars were missing from the Glen, Catherine and Thompson Street structures. DPS is working with the State Police Auto Theft Team and the Detroit Police Department to solve the crimes. One of the vehicles, he says, has been recovered in a Detroit “chop shop,” where many of the cars are disassembled and parts removed to be sold.
Hill Auditorium copper is missing
Large pieces of copper sheeting that had been removed from Hill Auditorium to be cleaned during Hill’s renovation have been reported missing from the grounds near the Plant Department’s Paint Shop. Although the street value of the copper as scrap is only about $800, Smiley says the replacement cost of the sheets could be more than $12,000. Anyone who has any information about the missing copper is urged to call the Witness Information Network (WIN), (800) 863-1355. Information and identity can be confidential if the caller wishes, and through the University’s incentive program, a cash reward can be made for information that leads to the recovery of University property.
