Eastern Michigan University students report assault, robbery
Three Eastern Michigan University students were assaulted and one was robbed Monday night, campus police reported.
The students said the assault and robbery occurred at 9:15 p.m. on Structure Drive just north of the parking structure, an e-mailed crime alert said.
Two of the victims sustained minor injuries, one of which was taken to a local hospital for treatment and released, the e-mail said.
The students said they had been inside the Student Center and left, heading south.
They said four men followed them as they walked. Eventually, one of the suspects asked if one of the students was “David.” The student said no, and the suspect began yelling at the victims to stop lying to him. Then at least two of the suspects began punching the students, they told police. The suspects took property from one of the students, the e-mail said. It did not say what was stolen.
The victims described the suspects as follows:
Suspect 1 is a black male, 6’2”, thin, wearing a black jacket, a white t-shirt, black pants and carrying a black backpack..
Suspect 2 is a black male, 6’0, thin, wearing a black sweatshirt, grey sweatpants, a black cap and carrying a black backpack.
Suspect 3 is a black male, 5’10, thin, wearing a black sweatshirt, red and black hat and carrying a black backpack.
Suspect 4 is a black male, 5’10, wearing a white sweatshirt, blue shorts and black shoes. Anyone with information is asked to call the campus police department at (734) 487-1222. The crime alert said members of the university community should:
• Be aware of their surroundings and look assertive
• Walk with friends or coworkers when possible. Nighttime escorts are available by calling 734- 487-3387
• Trust your intuition, if a particular situation makes you feel uncomfortable, choose an alternative.
• Anyone who feels threatened on campus, should look for a blue light phone to call for assistance.
• Program the number for EMU police (734-487-1222) into your cell phone.
• Check the EMU Public Safety website for additional safety tips.
Comments
Ricebrnr
Wed, Apr 21, 2010 : 9:14 a.m.
@ moretothestory, The point is I rarely hear or see caucasion men up in arms everytime we here it. As a matter of fact most submit readily and complain little at airports when they are continually selected for additional screening when the main reason they are selected is to "prove" racial profiling isn't going on. The reverse racism is appalling but again not seeing them complain here when the perp's stats are white male blah blah blah.
Mikey2u
Wed, Apr 21, 2010 : 9:13 a.m.
Publishing vague descriptions of assailants might lead to unnecessary stereo typing. Publishing details of crimes committed in Ypsilanti might lead to a negative image of Ypsilanti. Not publishing details of crimes committed in Ypsilanti might leave a blank spot in the newspaper. I suggest that the newspaper make-up happy stories to fill in the blank spots.
Jimmy McNulty
Wed, Apr 21, 2010 : 6:22 a.m.
Moreofthestory, are you kidding me? Why WOULDN'T their descriptions be published??? If I was the victim I would want the most info about these scumbags published! @Scottyboy, please leave Philly out of this and look no further than the capital of Unsafe, USA which is Detroit.
Mikey2u
Tue, Apr 20, 2010 : 9:48 p.m.
ScottyBoy, Tell Laura Dickinson that the school is a great place to learn. Tell the students that were beaten and robbed last night that Ypsilanti is no where near as bad as Philadelphia. Tell the guy that was beaten and robbed last night over by I-94 and Grove Rd that Ypsilanti didnt even make the top-ten list of dangerous neighborhoods. Tell them, dont tell me. I have been a resident of Ypsilanti for the past 54 years and I am currently working on a Masters at EMU. I grew-up here and I know the areas to avoid, but Im afraid that a lot of first time students dont.
ScottyBoy
Tue, Apr 20, 2010 : 5:27 p.m.
Do your homework. According to neighborscout.com the 15 worsE neighborhoods for crime are associated with the following universities: (not one in Michigan) 1. UC Santa Barbara, 2. University of Texas, Austin,(2), 3. St. Louis University, St. Louis (2), 4. UC Berkley, 5. Ohio State (2), 6. LeMoyne-Owen Collage, Memphis, Tenn. 7. University of Pennsyvania, Philadelphia, 8. Baylor, Waco, Tx. 9. University of Akron, Akron, Oh. (2), 10. Southwest Missouri St. Springfield, MO., 11. USC, L.A., CA., 12. University of South Carolina, Columbia, S.C.
ScottyBoy
Tue, Apr 20, 2010 : 4:55 p.m.
EMU is a great place to learn! You must be very sheltered if you think the adjacent neighborhood is the most crime ridden. Try Philadelphia. And please be more specific. Are you talking about the neighborhood to the north of the river. The nice neighborhood to the west, or is it the student ghetto to the south of Cross St.
Ricebrnr
Tue, Apr 20, 2010 : 1:37 p.m.
Serious question, Are caucasion males between the ages of 18-35 offended whenever a serial killer profile is mentioned?
chimarathon
Tue, Apr 20, 2010 : 1:20 p.m.
moretothestory-so because they are black a description should not be given?
lumberg48108
Tue, Apr 20, 2010 : 12:03 p.m.
j6015 Awesome.... emails dont talk papers dont say etc... one of these days they will get it!
j6015
Tue, Apr 20, 2010 : 10:02 a.m.
"an e-mailed crime alert said" e-mail can talk?
Ricebrnr
Tue, Apr 20, 2010 : 9:15 a.m.
College campuses = "weapons free environments" for the law abiding student that is. Criminals followed students from campus to a more favorable ambush point and assualted and robbed them. Who woulda thunk it? Duh just duh!
glimmertwin
Tue, Apr 20, 2010 : 9:13 a.m.
EMU - A Great Place To Learn! I'm anxious to hear how this plays out. Were these clowns really looking for someone or is it just a muse to mug someone? Please keep following this story. How many thin, young black males carrying backpacks and wearing hats can their be in Ypsi? Should find them no problem.
lumberg48108
Tue, Apr 20, 2010 : 8:48 a.m.
Is this a byline story? It reads nearly verbatim from the university release?
Mikey2u
Tue, Apr 20, 2010 : 8:20 a.m.
The only thing worse then the EMU campus being located adjacent to one of the most crime ridden neighborhoods in the US, is the fact that out-of-state students are aware of the danger until its too late.