EMU police arrest 3 men in connection with robbery, assault on campus
Three 18-year-old Ypsilanti men were arrested Tuesday in connection with a robbery and assault on the Eastern Michigan University campus the day before.
EMU Police Chief Greg O'Dell said this morning that investigators identified the three suspects but declined to reveal specifics on how they were identified.
On Monday night, three EMU students said four men followed them as they walked from the Student Center at about 9:15 p.m. One of the robbers asked if one of the students was “David.”
According to police, the student said no, and the suspect began yelling to stop lying. The students told police at least two of the men began punching them and took property from one of them.
O'Dell said the suspects aren't EMU students but were located and arrested on campus Monday. Police are currently working to identify the fourth man involved, he said.
The suspects are expected to be arraigned Thursday on unarmed robbery charges.
Comments
racerx
Mon, Apr 26, 2010 : 12:56 a.m.
@Scottyboy, I used to work for the City of Ann Arbor, this is where Greg O'dell came from. He has always been a very competent, professional and courteous policeman. As a parent who has a female entering EMU this fall, I have complete faith (now) in EMU's ability to not only solve crimes but to deter also by having a greater police pressence on campus. Walking groups, knowing your surroundings and other simple items can go a long way in protecting oneself. EMU even offers students to call a certain number to be escorted to places on campus if for example they are leaving from one location to another at night. CCW's, police state aren't the answers as some posts suggest. Gee, what would some of these people suggest, a big fence around EMU's campus from the city of Ypsi? Oh, I'm sorry, we're trying that with our border fence, and we see how well that is working!
pseudo
Sun, Apr 25, 2010 : 4:05 p.m.
These comments are incredibly ignorant - crime in 48197(Ypsilanti including the south side) are very close statistically - and YPsi has LESS property crime than in 48104 (ann arbor). www.homefair.com (look it up people) Ypsi has tough parts no question. But there are new businesses opening up, there are people buying houses here that are not employed via the auto industry (U of M, EMU, Hospitals, Professionals, Teachers, business owners etc. Ypsilanti's tax revenue is dictated by the state many other cities are having the same budget problems (troy is a good example). I was here as a student at EMU in the mid-80s and there was some pretty bad leadership at the time. Ypsilanti looks so much better now than it did. I couldn't tell you if crime is up or down but I feel much safer than I did then. Get over yourselves!
ScottyBoy
Wed, Apr 21, 2010 : 5:10 p.m.
Its interesting to note that since Greg O'Dell has been police chief these types of crimes are being solved.
ScottyBoy
Wed, Apr 21, 2010 : 5:07 p.m.
Mikey2u seems to have a hate relationship for everything Ypsilanti and EMU. Anyone who has spent time in Ypsilanti and on Eastern's campus know that its safe. Random crime and violance can happen anywhere.
lumberg48108
Wed, Apr 21, 2010 : 1:01 p.m.
so Mikey wants "How about having campus security conduct random checks for student IDs?" well - that is basically a POLICE state and threatens many civil rights... offer a real solution - not totalitarian measures that a third grader would suggest
tdw
Wed, Apr 21, 2010 : 12:55 p.m.
@Mikey2u I understand you point but as of now thats just a predicition
Mikey2u
Wed, Apr 21, 2010 : 11:31 a.m.
TDW, Ypsilanti devolving into a lawless free-for-all is a natural of the contraction process. Whats happening in Detroit will soon happen here. Approximately 25 percent of Detroit has been abandoned and is slated to be bulldozed. Almost everything built in Ypsilanti/Ypsilanti Township after 1939 is somehow connected to the manufacturing boom of World War Two. The manufacturing boom attracted large numbers of unskilled laborers. Manufacturers have since left Ypsilanti and moved the unskilled laborers jobs to China. Ypsilanti now has an over abundance of unemployed unskilled citizens. Most that lost their jobs have/will migrate to other parts of the country looking for work. Soon the only people left in Ypsilanti will be those too poor to leave, and those that work for the University. Ypsilantis tax base has eroded to the point we can no longer afford an adequate police presence. The death of a community is never a pretty thing but it is a natural part of life.
cinnabar7071
Wed, Apr 21, 2010 : 11:14 a.m.
Gun free zones = easy victims. Its time to fight back, and be the criminals worst nightmare.
Ricebrnr
Wed, Apr 21, 2010 : 11:10 a.m.
MI population ~ 10 million. MI CPL holders ~ 225,520. % of MI population with CPL's 2.26% % of criminals that want to meet armed resistance ~ 0% Do the math and it's a simple solution that costs nothing to the college or taxpayer to reduce crime on campus from those that hunt there.
tdw
Wed, Apr 21, 2010 : 10:41 a.m.
@Mike2u how is Ypsi devolving into a lawless free for all? I noticed on another post where you stated you've lived in Ypsi for a long time,so you better than most should know the VAST majority of the crime ( including the township )happens in a few small areas.
Mikey2u
Wed, Apr 21, 2010 : 10:34 a.m.
Lumburg, This shouldnt be too difficult a problem for EMU to deal with. Ypsilanti is devolving into a lawless free-for-all and there isnt much that can be done on that front, but EMU is a business, and if it wants to stay in business, it had better come-up with a plan. How about having a monitor posted at the entrance of the Student Center to check student IDs? How about having campus security conduct random checks for student IDs? Lumburg, you can afford to be overwhelmed by the problem but EMU can not.
lumberg48108
Wed, Apr 21, 2010 : 10:09 a.m.
Mikey2u "The question is: how many more of them are on campus, and what steps will EMU police take to ensure the safety of the student body?" What would you have the police do? Arrest every 20 year old with a backpack? You even said they tried to "blend in." EMU has increased police presence everywhere in the last 12 months and takes greater steps to alert the public. There are more police everywhere and I feel safer on campus. Having said that - there is a lot of crime in Ypsi and a lot of criminals looking for easy targets - STUDENTS! The crime is from Ypsi - not EMU. If you want to gripe - gripe about Ypsi and how their skeleton police force cant stop crime from happening.
glimmertwin
Wed, Apr 21, 2010 : 10:01 a.m.
Tuition isn't going up. At least you can be a victim without spending more money.
Mikey2u
Wed, Apr 21, 2010 : 9:35 a.m.
These four thugs wandered around the EMU campus carrying backpacks so they would blend in with the student population. Its a safe bet that they were stealing everything that they could from the dorms, student center, etc. In addition to committing an occasional assault and robbery. The question is: how many more of them are on campus, and what steps will EMU police take to ensure the safety of the student body? I hope something is done before another student is murdered.