EMU police: Student robbed by 4 men then punched in face
Update: EMU released a statement Saturday evening that said their investigation of this report indicates that it was a false police report.
An Eastern Michigan University student told police that he was robbed by four men - one with a handgun - at about 6:30 p.m. Friday in a campus parking lot.
From EMU
According to a crime alert posted by the EMU Department of Public Safety, the student was in the Green Lot, on the northern edge of campus near Huron River Drive, when the four men approached him.
The men demanded money, and the victim handed over his wallet.
The victim then was punched in the face, according to police, before the suspects ran away.
Police provided this description in the campus-wide crime alert:
The victim described the suspects as being African American males in their twenties, all over 6'0, large build, wearing dark colored puffy jackets with hoods. The victim states two of the jackets had fur around the hoods. The victim also described one of the suspects as having a scruffy or scraggly beard.
The victim did not require on-scene medical attention and reported only a minor injury.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact the EMU Police Department at 734-487-1222.
Comments
John Seychel
Sun, Nov 4, 2012 : 6:04 p.m.
HUH? that sounds a bit fantastical. sounds like its time to get better cameras in the lots.
sheepyd
Sun, Nov 4, 2012 : 9:51 a.m.
If I worked at a newspaper that thought it important to scare people by putting the fake story on the front page I would cetainly change the headline hours after finding out the report was false and make sure the correction got the same amount of attention. That's just me I'm kinda big on integrity, AA.com not so much. Stay classy AA.com
A2 is a Utopia
Sun, Nov 4, 2012 : 2:40 a.m.
so quick to report but not update, so here you go: On November 2, 2012, a timely warning was issued regarding an armed robbery on the EMU Campus in the Green Lot 1 parking area, near Huron River Drive. The investigation of this case has revealed that the claim of an armed robbery on campus was a false report. This report will be forwarded to the Washtenaw County Prosecutor's office for review and possible criminal charges. Eastern Michigan University will also be looking into seeking sanctions against the student for the false police report.
YpsiGirl4Ever
Sun, Nov 4, 2012 : 6:48 a.m.
Thanks for the information. Glad this student will be facing charges for making a false police report themselves, as this is well-deserved. Lying to the police and suggesting blame on "imaginary four scruffy beard African-American Males in puffy jackets with fur" were the real crimes in this case.
sbrockm1
Sun, Nov 4, 2012 : 12:03 a.m.
What do ya know, false report after all.
Michael
Sat, Nov 3, 2012 : 8:03 p.m.
I am a graduate student at EMU and this is my first semester in Ypsi. (I'm from the Saginaw area - SVSU graduate) Having never been to Ypsi in my life before now, I am shocked at the crime in this city. I've personally had about 5 different things happen to me since moving here a couple months ago. Car vandalism, attempted break-in in my apartment, etc. I lived in downtown Flint over the summer with a friend and I NEVER experienced any crime and never even heard of anything in the area. I can't believe how rampant crime is in this city and on EMU's campus. I will not be renewing my lease here and I will try to find somewhere else to live miles away from the city limits.
greg, too
Sun, Nov 4, 2012 : 1:44 a.m.
Crime happens everywhere.
YpsiGirl4Ever
Sun, Nov 4, 2012 : 12:02 a.m.
Its' almost like crime happens nowhere else in S.E. Michigan but in Ypsilanti.... But, that statement would be a flat-out lie.
City Confidential
Sat, Nov 3, 2012 : 11:35 p.m.
Congrats, Jonathan, you've been lucky. I've witness and experienced several criminal incidents in the few years that I have lived in Ypsi - my car broken into, stuff stolen from my yard, neighbors' houses broken into / doors kicked in, witnessed an armed robbery, witnessed a domestic violence assault, witness an act of prostitution, watched as police investigated a carjacking behind my house, etc. I guess the criminals only like to commit crimes if I am watching.
Jonathan Blutarsky
Sat, Nov 3, 2012 : 9:09 p.m.
Funny - I have both lived in Ypsilanti and currently work there and never had a problem, as has most people in the town. Go figure.
nickcarraweigh
Sat, Nov 3, 2012 : 4:54 p.m.
This kind of thing might be acceptable somewhere like Ann Arbor, but it's uncalled for in Ypsilanti.
Mark Hergott
Sat, Nov 3, 2012 : 5:08 p.m.
... armed robbery and beatings are acceptable in Ann Arbor? I am just guessing here, but you are probably being sarcastic. The better question is... why do you feel the need to be sarcastic?
Tyler
Sat, Nov 3, 2012 : 4:21 p.m.
College campuses are an attractive target to criminals. Why? Because they're an easy population. Many college students are away from home for the first time. They are unfamiliar with the areas and they are unaware of many of the dangers. Most importantly, they are not allowed the basic freedoms of self defense. We criminalize carrying of firearms by students who would otherwise be allowed to carry them in any other setting. Michigan should pass a bill that would allow CPL holder to carry on campus. Eastern should also take personal protection more seriously. While guns are not for everyone, students should look into (and be encouraged by the school) other means of self defense (training, pepper spray, taser, etc).
Mark Hergott
Sat, Nov 3, 2012 : 4:09 p.m.
Paula, I don't like speculating TOO wildly, but this just sounds fantastic. As in, this is a fantasy. Four large black men wearing featureless clothing to steal a student's wallet? A STUDENT'S wallet. What's in there? Pell grant receipts and a Stafford loan payment schedule? Now, I don't like writing stuff that gets deleted, so maybe all of this went down like the person said it did. ... and maybe you are going to post a follow-up story about a false police report. Only time will tell.
HB11
Sun, Nov 4, 2012 : 12:01 p.m.
@Mark Hergott - Vindication, and you get to throw down a big, fat "I TOLD you so!"
greg, too
Sun, Nov 4, 2012 : 1:41 a.m.
Per EMU, the story is bogus. EMU is looking to possibly press charges against the student who filed the report.
YpsiGirl4Ever
Sat, Nov 3, 2012 : 11:58 p.m.
Agree Mark, This one is fishy. One...the jacket of choice for young African-American males are not "fur-trimmed" and/or puffy coats. That's been done since like 2001. Second, four African American males to take one student wallet. A bit of overkill you think? Scruffy beards? Not feeling that one unless the Males were homeless or something. But this one point raises an eyebrow. Four scruffy looking African-American males take one students' wallet and only minor injuries took place, no on-scene medical attention required? Umm, hopefully the EMU police will look a wee bit deeper into this case.
City Confidential
Sat, Nov 3, 2012 : 11:31 p.m.
When I witnessed three men rob someone with a sawed off shotgun on EMU's campus, it was a student that they robbed. They got a dollar from him. One single dollar. It wasn't about the money, just like rape isn't about sexual attraction, it's about dominating another human being and feeling strong and powerful.
Paula Gardner
Sat, Nov 3, 2012 : 4:58 p.m.
Yes, it's dangerous to speculate! I've been noticing a fair number of police reports from the apartment complexes north of this parking lot near LeForge Road. We have an employee who lives there, and we've been flagging them for him so that he knows what's going on. That was the first thing I thought of when I saw this crime alert.
Billy
Sat, Nov 3, 2012 : 4:38 p.m.
They might have security camera footage since it was in a parking lot. Then again....they might not....
Billy
Sat, Nov 3, 2012 : 4 p.m.
The criminals who did this will only be emboldened by having succeeded. Only a matter of time till they do it again...