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Posted on Thu, Aug 25, 2011 : 1:09 p.m.

EMU student confronts thief, recovers stolen backpack, police say

By Lee Higgins

An Eastern Michigan University student confronted a teenager who stole his backpack Wednesday and was able to yank it back from him despite being assaulted, campus police said.

Officers arrested a 17-year-old Ypsilanti Township boy after the struggle outside the Warner Building.

The boy was with two other men who are not expected to be charged in the 8:08 p.m. incident, said EMU Interim Public Safety Director Bob Heighes. However, one of the men is being investigated for trespassing, Heighes said.

According to Heighes, the 21-year-old victim was in the gymnastics room when he noticed that his backpack was missing. A laptop computer and other items were in the backpack, police said. The victim went outside and saw the backpack on the teenager's back, Heighes said.

When the victim reached for the backpack, the teenager punched him at least twice in the face, Heighes said.

The victim was able to recover the backpack and flagged down an officer, while others also called police. Officers responded to West Circle Drive and arrested the teenager near the intersection of Ann Street and North Huron River Drive, police said.

The teenager is expected to be arraigned on criminal charges Friday.

Lee Higgins covers crime and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at (734) 623-2527 and email at leehiggins@annarbor.com.

Comments

TinyArtist

Fri, Aug 26, 2011 : 12:50 p.m.

Huzzah!

Bogie

Fri, Aug 26, 2011 : 12:32 p.m.

Good for the victim! It is time to take back the community from those, who think they can steal and intimidate. I mean, the guy didn't even run, he was just walking along, like that stuff belonged to him.....I'm personally sick of it.

Ricebrnr

Thu, Aug 25, 2011 : 10:48 p.m.

It is a darn shame that we citizens have to resort to hand to hand combat to simply keep what is ours. People who think they can take what they want without earning it have entitlement issues and will be the downfall of our society. In the meantime,1 word of advice.. If you are fighting fair, you are not doing it right.

TR

Thu, Aug 25, 2011 : 9:11 p.m.

You have to be careful on EMU's Campus. I had my flash drive stolen from right under my nose last year. The kid who stole it could not access anything on it because all of my personal information was password protected. He was able to get my email off one document and returned it to me. No matter if I get up to walk two feet away I take everything with me. Good for the person who took control and got their backpack back in their possession.

RJA

Thu, Aug 25, 2011 : 9:08 p.m.

I wonder what the hell this 17 yr. old boy was thinking? Congrats to the student that recovered his property. Sometimes you just have to stand up and get what belongs to you. I like the fact that the victim flagged down an officer, and others called the police too. Good job by the victim and the police.

nickcarraweigh

Thu, Aug 25, 2011 : 8:26 p.m.

Good for the student. Every cop for 20 miles was busy in Ann Arbor wearing ski masks and raiding marijuana clinics.

SW40

Thu, Aug 25, 2011 : 5:27 p.m.

What charges is the suspect going to arraigned on today?