Editor’s note: Coverage of campus police reports has been delayed due to the Grand Rapids Community College Police Department now requiring The Collegiate to file a Freedom of Information Act request in order to obtain reports.
Men’s basketball player caught gate jumping in ramp B
On Wednesday, Nov. 6, a Grand Rapids Community College police officer watched a group of students enter their cars in Parking Ramp B and promptly speed off. When exiting the ramp, one of the students paid and allowed another student to follow them out without paying.
The officer stopped the student who left without paying, who happened to be on the men’s basketball team, and asked if he and his teammates exit this way frequently. The student told the officer that they did, and the officer thanked him for being honest and informed him that he will have to pay parking fees once the report is sent to conduct and that the officer would be talking to their coach.
GRCC employee lost keys
On Wednesday, Nov. 6, at 10:19 a.m. an officer was dispatched to room 354 of the student center and met with an employee. The employee informed the officer that on Oct. 31 she had brought her work keys home with her and couldn’t remember if she brought them in the house or left them in the car. The following morning, the woman went out to her car and discovered someone had gotten into it and gone through her things but nothing appeared missing.
She has since been unable to find her GRCC keys and the officer informed her she could complete a new key request form and there would be a $10 charge for each key that needed to be replaced.
Food stolen from the cafeteria
On Wednesday, Nov. 6, at 12:20 p.m. an officer was dispatched to the GRCC cafeteria regarding stolen food.
Upon arrival, the complainant informed the officer that a man walked out of the cafeteria without paying for a chicken wrap, french fries and a vitamin water, totaling $12.97. The complainant said he didn’t wish to press charges, but wants the man banned from the cafeteria if found.
Wallet stolen from student’s car
On Wednesday, Nov. 6, at 2:15 p.m., a GRCCPD officer was approached by a student claiming that her wallet was stolen from her vehicle. While giving her statement, she said she did not notice anything else missing from her car and she was unsure exactly where she was parked when her wallet was taken.
The woman received a text message that her debit card was declined at Snipes in Woodland Mall and proceeded to deactivate all of her cards and file fraud claims.
The officer contacted Woodland Mall security, who informed the officer that they were already aware of the man using the fraudulent card. Following the attempted purchase from Snipes, the man began to run from the east entrance to a footpath east of Kohl’s when he noticed he was being followed. With permission, the responding officer obtained a photo and video of the man to check against the GRCC PD camera system.
The officer was informed by Woodland Mall security that the man had been taken into custody by the Kentwood Police Department and the officer made contact with the man while he was sitting in a Kentwood police car. After informing the man of his Miranda rights, the officer began to question him about the larceny. The officer told the man that the credit and debit cards he had came from a wallet that was taken from GRCC property. The man stated he did not have the wallet and never had the wallet but instead claimed he got the cards from “some guy downtown” before saying he didn’t know where this exchange took place. He did, however, admit to using the card at Snipes and Champs and using them knowing they were not his.
When the officer searched the man’s backpack and clothes, he did not find the wallet or the missing cards. The man was arrested by Kentwood police and logged at the Kent County Correctional Facility on illegal use of a financial transaction device.
E.C.L.L staff member reports injured ankle
On Friday, Nov. 8, at 8:46 a.m. an officer was dispatched to the Early Childhood Learning Lab in response to a staff member who had hurt her ankle the day prior.
Upon arrival, the staff member told the officer about the incident that had taken place the day prior. She said one of her male students was running away from his mother after drop off and was running towards an alarmed exit door. She then ran after the little boy and when she was catching up to him she felt her ankle become unstable, but wasn’t sure if she had rolled or twisted it. She informed the officer that she had mentioned her injury to her assistant and another employee but had not yet informed her supervisor.
At the time of injury, she graded the pain at about a three but when talking to the officer she said her pain level was around a seven, as her ankle still hurt and she had trouble bearing weight on it. The officer advised her to inform him if she did end up seeking medical treatment.
Three days later, on Nov. 11, the officer received an email from the complainant informing him that she went to urgent care on Monday night. She was diagnosed with a sprained ankle and possibly a sprained foot but was waiting on the final diagnosis. Additionally, she was placed in a walking boot.
Injured hand at Ford Fieldhouse
On Saturday Nov. 9, at 5:26 p.m., an officer responded to a walk-in medical complaint in the main lobby of the police department.
The complainant informed the officer that he had caught the web of his left hand in a lock at the Ford Fieldhouse around 5 p.m. and the officer noted that his hand was visibly red and swollen. To reduce the swelling, the officer gave the complainant an ice pack. He also gave the complainant an injury report form and a list of approved clinics in the area for urgent and emergency room care. The complainant told the officer he was planning to go to the Corewell emergency room as a precaution.
Student experiencing suicidal thoughts at the ATC
On Monday, Nov. 11, two officers were dispatched to the Applied Technology Center on a report of a student feeling suicidal.
The student shared with the responding officers that he was feeling suicidal and had a plan to end his life. He stated he’s never had these thoughts previously, nor has he ever been in a psychiatric hospital or taken medication for depression or anxiety. When asked why he was feeling this way, the student stated that he was overwhelmed with life.
The officers asked if he wanted to see a therapist at Pine Rest or Network 180, but the student stated that he did not want to leave. The officers then asked the student if he would like someone from the Network 180 Crisis Intervention Team to come and see him and he said he did. One of the officers left the room to contact CIT.
Police Chief Whitman joined the responding officers and stated that CIT was backed up with three calls before theirs and informed the student that he was unable to leave GRCC property because he had a plan. The student agreed to let GRCC PD transport him to Trinity Health Grand Rapids for a psychiatric evaluation.
On Nov. 20, Whitman followed up with the student who stated that he was back in class and feeling much better. The student was able to get connected to resources as well as his primary care physician and quit his job, which was a stressor previously. Whitman gave the student information about the Center for Counseling and Well-Being as well as Disability Support Services on campus.
Trespassing at College Park Plaza
On Monday, Nov. 11, two officers were dispatched to College Park Plaza due to a woman lying on the ground covered in a blanket and surrounded by bags. The first officer on the scene asked the woman for identification and informed her that she was trespassing. The woman said she didn’t have an ID on her, but provided the officers with a name and date of birth, though they were unable to confirm her identity.
The officer gave her a trespassing warning and shared that she was not allowed back on campus without official business. She then asked the officer if he could take her to Trinity Health so she could detox. He said he could but would have to pat her down first to ensure his safety. He then radioed dispatch and dropped her off.
Student trips on broken grate
On Wednesday, Nov. 13, an officer was dispatched to the science building at 6:12 p.m. after a student fell on a grate near the student center.
While speaking with the officer the student shared that she fell on the northeast corner of Lyon and Bostwick when she tripped over the corner of a grate. She said that her hands were in her pockets when she fell so she was unable to catch herself and fell straight onto her chest. She told the officer she wasn’t bleeding but did have a scrape on her left hand and that her neck and head were hurting. She said she did not want to seek any further medical treatment.
The officer took pictures of the grate where the woman fell and placed a cone over the broken pavement. Dispatch reached out to the City of Grand Rapids who put in a ticket to get this repaired.
