Crime Alert

Police say student recants story about being the victim of an unarmed robbery

EAST LANSING, Mich. — The Michigan State University police are seeking to bring felony charges for filing a false police report against a 19-year-old student who recanted his story about being robbed by unarmed subjects near Landon Field near the bleachers off of West Circle Drive.
The student said he was walking near the Sparty Statue sending text messages on his cell phone as he was attacked by a group of four men.  
Follow-up police investigation revealed that the student admitted to making up the story.

Federal law requires that the university provide crime alerts when there is a report of a criminal act on campus that poses a threat to the health and safety of the campus community.

“Our top priority is the safety of the community. We have to treat every report as a crime and conduct thorough investigations,” said MSU Police Sgt. Florene McGlothian-Taylor.

Charges are being filed with the Ingham County Prosecutor’s Office.

 

Unarmed Robbery

EAST LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan State University Police department is investigating an unarmed robbery that occurred at 1 a.m. today on Landon Field near the bleachers off of West Circle Drive.

The victim, a 19-year-old student, said he was walking south toward the Sparty Statue sending text messages on his cell phone as he passed a group of four men standing by a walkway. He told police he was tackled from behind and punched and kicked by the suspects. 

During the struggle, one of the suspects removed the victim’s wallet from his pocket and took the contents, before all four suspects fled north toward Grand River Avenue.

The student refused medical treatment for swelling and redness around his right eye and minor facial abrasions. The student does not believe any weapons were involved.

The student described all four suspects as black men of unknown age, height and weight. He said they were wearing dark hooded sweatshirts.

MSU police are asking anyone who was in the area and may have seen anything or anyone matching the description of the alleged suspects to contact the department at (517) 355-2222.

 

Safety Tips

Here are some safety tips from the MSU Police:

  1. Call 911 if you are in danger.
  2. Walk in well-lit areas if possible.
  3. Be aware of your surroundings and others in the area.
  4. Realize that listening to headphones or iPods or talking on your cell while walking decreases your awareness of your surroundings.
  5. Walk with others when possible.

Services Available

CATA Bus Customer Services

(517) 432-2282, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m.-7 p.m. and weekends 9 a.m.- 5 p.m.

CATA Night Owl

(517) 432-8888, Monday through Friday, 2 a.m.-7a.m.

Use any campus green light phone to call the CATA Night Owl. The bus will arrive within 20 minutes of calling.

For information on IM self-defense classes on campus, call (517) 432-2661.