Suspicious person in fatigues causes alarm on University of Michigan campus
Update: Man wearing gas mask and holding cat sign on U-M campus was 'a joke'
University of Michigan police said someone wearing fatigues, and possibly a gas mask, was seen entering Tisch Hall Thursday, but officers checked out the area and did not find the person.
Spokeswoman Diane Brown said the suspicious person was seen about noon. Police responded to the area and searched for the person, but Brown said nothing suspicious was found.
“Just to be safe, officers went through the buildings and did not locate anything suspicious,” Brown said.
The buildings around Tisch Hall were not evacuated and Brown said the area has been given the ‘all clear.’
Multiple tweets from students reported seeing a man walking around with a gas mask and a sign reading, “Love is in the air. Be prepared.” Brown could not immediately confirm those reports.
Police still are investigating the incident.
Kyle Feldscher covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kylefeldscher@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.
Comments
Tru2Blu76
Fri, Feb 15, 2013 : 7:26 a.m.
We have to take violations of U of M's strict "fatigues free zone" seriously! ( I suppose) A suspicious prowler amongst all those helpless (aka, disarmed) students and faculty - right under the nose of Super Security Sue (Coleman). Scandalous! Here she comes to save the day!!!! Super Sue is on her waaay! (With apologies to the much more credible Mighty Mouse.)
ccsummer
Thu, Feb 14, 2013 : 9:58 p.m.
I like the guy's message but I think people are a bit on edge these days.
jns131
Fri, Feb 15, 2013 : 6:47 p.m.
After what happened in LA? I can't blame them one bit.
Eep
Thu, Feb 14, 2013 : 9:43 p.m.
I don't think that the UM Police have used the patch shown in the photo accompanying this article since . . . about 10 years ago? You might want to update that.
Homeland Conspiracy
Thu, Feb 14, 2013 : 8:53 p.m.
Be afraid, be very afraid....
mady
Fri, Feb 15, 2013 : 7:13 p.m.
ooooh homeland, I certainly am. first cat people now fatigue people...
Charley Sullivan
Thu, Feb 14, 2013 : 8:52 p.m.
An artistic expression about the suffocating nature of Valentine's Day. Too bad someone wasn't quick enough to recognize art when they saw it.
ypsiypsiypsi1
Thu, Feb 14, 2013 : 8:35 p.m.
Not a good idea considering police like to shoot first and ask questions later.
ypsiypsiypsi1
Thu, Feb 14, 2013 : 10:17 p.m.
As for the person in fatigues, I hope his intentions were not violent.
ypsiypsiypsi1
Thu, Feb 14, 2013 : 10:07 p.m.
Joe, you're right, sometimes they have to. When I was in the navy (master-at-arms) we were thought to use the appropriate level of force when confronting a suspect. They are ordered from least amount of force to the maximum: presence, communication, physical control, soft techniques, hard techniques, non-lethal and deadly force. The use of deadly force is only justified when all other levels of force fail. Recently, 2 innocent bystanders where shot up by LAPD looking for Chris Donner and they weren't even driving the same color vehicle. Did they need to use lethal force here? No. So if police can get away with it there, why not here in AA?
Joe Kidd
Thu, Feb 14, 2013 : 9:17 p.m.
There's nothing wrong with that. It's all based on the circumstances. Some times you have to.
Ricebrnr
Thu, Feb 14, 2013 : 8:24 p.m.
Oh please, what's the big deal? There's a no weapons policy on campus so clearly nothing dangerous was afoot. right?
Joe Kidd
Thu, Feb 14, 2013 : 9:16 p.m.
Au contraire! From UM Regental Ordinances, pg 45: Section 2. Possession of Firearms , Dangerous Weapons and Knives Except as otherwise provided in Section 4, no person shall, while on any property owned, leased, or otherwise controlled by the Regents of the University of Michigan: (1) possess any firearm or any other dangerous weapon as defined in or interpreted under Michigan law or (2) wear on his or her person or carry in his or her clothing any knife, sword or machete having a blade longer than four (4) inches, or, in the case of a knife with a mechanism to lock the blade in place when open, longer than three (3) inches.
HRD
Thu, Feb 14, 2013 : 8 p.m.
"Love is in the air"?! I wondered what that smell was.
jns131
Fri, Feb 15, 2013 : 6:46 p.m.
Pepe Le Pew comes to mind.
WalkingJoe
Thu, Feb 14, 2013 : 7:07 p.m.
With everything that's happened elsewhere lately I think the police were wise to err on the side of caution.
NUXI
Thu, Feb 14, 2013 : 6:45 p.m.
I'm wearing BDU pants right now.
a2citizen
Thu, Feb 14, 2013 : 10:04 p.m.
I'm not wearing only socks.
Homeland Conspiracy
Thu, Feb 14, 2013 : 8:52 p.m.
LOL!!! Luv the pic.
NUXI
Thu, Feb 14, 2013 : 6:48 p.m.
Also, relevant image: http://i.imgur.com/K2X4woM.jpg
Ben Connor Barrie
Thu, Feb 14, 2013 : 6:44 p.m.
I was teaching in Angell Hall at the time of the indecent. Didn't notice anything out of the ordinary. Guess the police were in a different wing. You can read my full account in all the boring details here: http://www.damnarbor.com/2013/02/st-valentines-day-massacre-false-alarm.html
Superior Twp voter
Thu, Feb 14, 2013 : 10:06 p.m.
Who was "indecent"? Teacher ?
willie
Thu, Feb 14, 2013 : 6:40 p.m.
When fatigues are outlawed, only outlaws will have fatigues.
Hmm
Thu, Feb 14, 2013 : 6:27 p.m.
ROTC wears their uniforms every Thursday. Probably one of the students on his way to class, but good job for checking it out, you can never be too careful these days!
Pete
Fri, Feb 15, 2013 : 12:16 p.m.
Actually, you CAN be too careful.
Mike
Thu, Feb 14, 2013 : 6:01 p.m.
Kids.
justcurious
Thu, Feb 14, 2013 : 6:24 p.m.
I agree Mike. After all, it IS Valentines Day..:)
a2xarob
Thu, Feb 14, 2013 : 6:23 p.m.
I certainly hope so, Mike. This has me scared.