UST police arrested a man on Aug. 26 after he followed two UST students to Clare Hall and then fought with arresting officers.
According to UST Chief of Police H.E. Jenkins, an African-American male, dressed in white clothing with a Louis Vuitton crossbody bag and beret, approached education graduate student Alysse Villadiego and junior accounting major Cameron Gims as they were walking from Doherty Library to Clare Hall around 8:20 p.m.
Gims said he did not see the suspect at first, but noticed something was “off” when he saw Villadiego walking faster. Gims said he turned and saw the man following them, holding a Macbook in one hand, and a cup in the other.
“I ignored him for a second, then he started talking to us,” he said.
Gims said the man was asking them for help and money, but harassing them too.
“You could tell he was not in his right mind,” he said.
“I went back to Clare Hall [with Villadiego] to help get him away from the door and give Alysse time to get in.”
Gims said that right after he walked Villadiego back to Clare, he went to Young Hall, where he lives.
Villadiego said the man waited outside Clare for 10-15 minutes.
“When I got inside…I told my roommates what had happened. They said to call the police, and then we saw [the officers] go pick him up,” Villadiego said.
Villadiego said she saw police Sgt. Charlie Edwards arrive near Colquitt Street with his supervisor. She said the suspect was restrained and arrested after putting up a fight.
Officers arrived on the scene at 8:27 p.m. and detained the subject, Jenkins wrote in an email to The Independent. Jenkins wrote that the man was ultimately charged with Interference Texas Penal Code 38.15.
According to the Haggard Law Firm, that code refers to interfering with police duties or the lawful exercise of police authority. In Harris County / Houston it is a Class B misdemeanor and carries fines up to $2,000 and up to 180 days in jail. In addition, a person can receive up to two years’ probation.
Jenkins wrote that if a suspect is causing problems on campus, the UST Police Department will issue him or her a criminal trespass warning, either orally or in writing. This means that the next time the suspect is on campus, he or she can be arrested for criminal trespassing, a Class B misdemeanor.
Jenkins also wrote that students should be aware of their surroundings and ask for security escorts when they feel unsafe, or late at night. The number to call a UST security escort is 713-525-3888.
Jenkins wrote that the UST Police Department is working hard to make sure the campus is a safe environment for students, faculty and staff.
To improve campus safety, however, Gims said there should be better safety precautions taken around the area by the UST Police Department. “Especially because Clare Hall is an all-female housing unit,” Gims said.
Villadiego suggested female students avoid walking alone at night if possible. “If you could walk home with a guy, that would be better,” she said.
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