By Alexa Cheaney
Hit and Run in parking Ramp B
On Feb. 2, a Grand Rapids Community College Police Department officer responded to a hit-and-run call on the second level of Parking Ramp B. Upon arrival, the officer spoke to a GRCC staff member who arrived at 12:45 p.m. and returned at approximately 5:20 p.m. to find damage done to the rear passenger side panel behind the tire.
Due to the absence of cameras and witnesses, the officer was unable to determine the exact cause of the damage. No other cars were present at the scene.
Trespasser found sleeping in RJF
On Feb 2 at 7:46 a.m., GRCC police were dispatched to level G2 of Raleigh J. Finkelstein Hall (RJF) to investigate a potentially homeless man sleeping on the couch near the Information Technology (IT) department. Upon arrival, the dispatched officer and a colleague woke up the sleeping man and asked for identification. The man provided an ID and said he had enrolled in classes at the financial aid office the day prior. The officers on the scene contacted dispatch to verify these claims, however upon investigation, it was found that the man was not currently enrolled in classes.
The officers told the male that if he was not currently enrolled he should not be on campus, and explained that he is subject to arrest if found on campus again.
GRCC police have come into contact with this individual twice before. He was found sleeping in the bathroom of Cook Hall and was given a verbal warning for trespassing back in October, and was also found sleeping in a restroom in RJF in December.
Student harassed by unknown man in RJF
On Feb. 5 at 11:21 a.m., a GRCC officer was dispatched to room 418 of RJF to meet with two students who were reportedly being harassed by an unknown man. Before meeting the students, the officer spoke with an instructor who pointed out the victims.
In an interview, the victim told the officer she was sitting in the hallway with her peer and an older white man, reportedly between 50 and 60 years old, that she did not know was sitting on the couch next to them. She recalled that the suspect was talking to himself, mumbling and swearing. She said she got off the couch and began to walk toward the restroom when the man then began to shout obscenities at her. Shocked, she engaged with the man, telling him she did not know who he was as he continued to mumble to himself before walking to the fourth-floor catwalk and sitting on a couch.
After using the restroom, the victim walked back to her peer and told him she wanted to know why the suspect had used that language with her. The pair attempted to speak with him, but neither could make out what he was saying. The man began to claim that he worked at GRCC, and when he was asked again why he used that language, he kept defensively stating that he worked for the college. When she realized the suspect was unresponsive, she disengaged.
She then spoke to her instructor and told them what had happened, and the instructor contacted GRCC Police.
The responding officer advised the victim to not confront anyone in the future who appears to have mental health issues, and instead contact GRCC Police. The officer told her that it was not worth getting hurt over the words the suspect had said.
Another officer checked the fourth floor of RJF while the responding officer was in an interview. The responding officer also checked the building for the suspect after his interview concluded. A man matching the suspect’s description could not be found.
