The University Record, July 19, 1999 By Rebecca A. Doyle
Incident results in criminal sexual conduct charge
Two contract employees providing custodial services at the M-CARE facility at 2311 Green disagree on whether there was a sexual incident. The woman involved says that another worker took her to a break room to show her what work needed to be done and then made inappropriate comments and grabbed her breast. The male employee says that he only brushed by the woman as he was leaving and did not make sexual comments or grab her.
Department of Public Safety (DPS) officers who investigated the complaint have turned it over to the prosecutor for review and authorization of the charge.
DPS investigates attempted robbery
DPS officers are following up on descriptions by several witnesses of a young man’s attempt to take a shoulder bag from a woman. On June 25, a woman walking near the Thompson Street carport was approached by a man who was running and grabbed her shoulder bag. When she yelled, he released the bag and walked toward the loading dock at West Quad. Witnesses say he ran or walked toward State Street after that. He is described as a white male, approximately 15 years of age, 5-feet 8-inches tall, and thin.
The case is still under investigation and DPS advises anyone who experiences a similar incident to immediately report it.
Attempted theft at Natural Science Bldg.
Officers were alerted on June 14 that a door in the Kraus Natural Science Building showed evidence of having been damaged with a pry bar. The U-M employee who reported the attempt said that over winter break a similar incident had occurred. The room contained photographic equipment and supplies. Investigation showed that the door had not been opened and that no items were missing.
Car stolen from Northwood lot
On June 23, DPS received a report from a University Housing resident that a car was missing from a parking lot at Northwood IV housing on North Campus. Officers investigated the complaint and searched nearby lots to see if the car was misplaced. There have been no developments in the case and police were unable to find any broken glass or other sign that the car had been broken into. They are continuing to investigate the incident and are looking for a light blue 1997 Ford Taurus station wagon.
Officers also are working with the Washtenaw Area Auto Theft team to find the missing vehicle.
Proceedings updates
Six youths will be prosecuted in connection with golf cart thefts that were reported in June’s Police Beat. The six, ages 14 to 16, were apprehended by Ann Arbor Police as they fled on foot through southwest Ann Arbor after riding golf carts they allegedly stole from the U-M Golf Course. They are charged with larceny over $2,000.
The former U-M student who was charged with using his computer and the University-operated Internet connection to distribute pornographic images of children pled no contest on July 1 before Washtenaw County Circuit Court Judge David Swartz. An Aug. 18 date has been set for sentencing, which could be up to seven years in prison.
