News

Police Beat for 04/23/2009

Posted on April 23, 2009, at 1:03 a.m.

A Long Road, indeed

A police officer was patrolling Rangeley Road when a vehicle failed to yield and turned left in front of him, entering the Collins Center for the Arts Parking Lot at 1:09 a.m. April 19. The driver pulled into a parking space and turned off his lights. The officer started to turn around to approach the vehicle, but the driver backed up quickly and sped off. The officer followed and stopped him on Long Road. The officer could smell the odor of intoxicants coming from the driver, identified as Rex Wilkinson, 20, Orono.

The officer asked Wilkinson what he had to drink and Wilkinson said, “not too many.” Wilkinson failed a field sobriety test and was placed under arrest for operating under the influence. He was taken to the university police station where he tested a .16 blood alcohol content on an intoxilizer test. He was taken to Penobscot County Jail and his vehicle was towed.

Baking soda

Residence Life staff of Knox Hall called police to report the odor of burning marijuana at 1:41 a.m. April 18. When officers knocked on the suspected third-floor room, Edward Cronin, 18, Orono, opened the door. Two other students were inside the room. From the door, officers spotted a plastic soda bottle filled with dryer sheets with brown water near the top, thought to be a homemade smoking device. Officers received consent to search the room and located a grinder on top of a desk and three sandwich baggies with marijuana residue inside. In a desk drawer they found a bottle of tequila. On the bed, under a blanket, was a glass marijuana pipe. Cronin was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of liquor by a minor.

New paint job

A brother of Phi Kappa Sigma reported that sometime during the night of April 17, someone threw a container of paint at the front door of the fraternity’s house at 89 College Ave. Paint dried on the door and walkway. Estimated cost to clean up and repaint is $500. The case is under investigation.

Winterport warrant

Officers responded to Dunn Hall to locate Benjamin Barton, 25, Winterport at 1:18 p.m. April 17. Police had a warrant for Barton’s arrest for failure to appear in court. They placed him under arrest and found a small baggie of marijuana in his pocket. Barton was charged with possession of marijuana.

End of the year rally

Police received report of a broken window near the main entrance of York Hall at 1:03 p.m. April 19. It had been broken sometime overnight. Estimated repair cost is $200.

Residence Life staff of Hancock Hall reported an exit sign hanging by wires in the first-floor hallway at 9:37 a.m. April 19. The sign had been dislodged from the wall sometime during April 17. Estimated repair cost is $50.

Residence Life staff of Knox Hall called police to report a broken second-floor south-wing window at 2:07 a.m. April 19. A group of three males – one wearing a dark, hooded sweatshirt – are believed to be responsible. The officer who responded was unable to locate them. Estimated repair cost is $250.

A piece of cement was thrown through the window of the Oceanographic Operations Building on campus, which was reported at 9:51 a.m. April 18. The cement was probably used to prop the door open. Estimated repair cost is $200.

The four cases are under investigation.

Run from the RA

Residence Life staff of Somerset Hall reported a student who had been banned from campus property outside the hall entrance at 3:45 p.m. April 20. When a resident assistant tried to confront him, he ran into the parking lot. Police were unable to locate him. The case is under investigation.

Fightin’ words

Police responded to University Park for a fight between two people reported by a witness at 9:50 p.m. April 17. The female involved in the fight told the officer everything was fine, and she was sorry for the alarm. It appeared to be a verbal argument and the other subject had left.

Campus Currents: Police Beat