Personal Safety Alerts Archive

September 22, 2009

Since last Thursday, September 17th, there have been four (4) reported armed robberies just south of the Main Campus, in the Spottswood and Kearney area. There were two additional robberies reported earlier this month a few blocks west of campus, along the Highland Row.

Most of the incidents occurred between 8:00 PM and midnight.
The victims were approached after parking and getting out of their vehicles. In some incidents the victims were not alone.
The property taken has been purses, wallets, cash, cell phones, and credit cards.
Victims have been an even mix of male and female, student and non-student, including international students.
None of the victims have been injured.

In some of the incidents, the victim(s) have provided the following consistent suspect descriptions.

An African-American female in her twenties, 5'6", 100 pounds, with straight, nearly shoulder length hair. She was armed with a small, black handgun. A dark sedan may have been used as a getaway vehicle. The female suspect has acted alone (2 incidents).
An African-American male, 5'6", 150 pounds, wearing dark clothing and a black "hoodie." He was armed with a black handgun, and acted alone (3 incidents).
There is at least one additional description of an African-American male, 5'10", medium build, wearing dark clothes and possibly armed with a silver automatic handgun and accompanied by another male (1 incident).

Police Services is working closely with the Memphis Police Department to investigate these cases. The University Police will focus more patrols in the area, but you are encouraged to use additional caution when out at night, and to always be aware of your surroundings. If you notice anyone or anything suspicious, please contact the police immediately. The Memphis Police can be contacted at 901-545-2677 (545-COPS). The emergency number for the University Police is 901-678-4357 (please program our number into your speed dial).

ALERT UPDATE - ARREST MADE IN "TASER" ASSAULT

April 15, 2009

On Tuesday, April 14, 2009, the University Police issued a TigerText message and a Personal Safety Alert after a student reported he was assaulted by a male with a "taser" around 2:00 that morning. The assault occurred in the area of the Student Activities Plaza and the bookstore. Other than the temporary effects of the taser, the student was not injured.

On Wednesday, April 15, 2009, around 3:30 AM, a University police officer on patrol observed a male matching the description of the subject responsible for the "taser" assault on April 14, 2009. The male was walking in the area of Desoto and State Street. The male was taken into custody and a taser-like "stun gun" was recovered. The male was arrested by University officers and transported to 201 Poplar.

The University of Memphis Police will continue to investigate this case. Additional charges may be forthcoming. Anyone with information about this case is encouraged to call the University Police at 678-4357, University Police Detective Ballard at 678-3849, or send information to Police Services through the web at http://bf.memphis.edu/police/confidential.php or by email to police@memphis.edu.

ORIGINAL ALERT

April 14, 2009

On Tuesday, April 14, 2009, a student reported to Police Services that shortly after 2:00 AM, he was struck with a taser near the University bookstore. Other than the temporary effects of the taser, the student was not injured and no property was taken.

The student was walking near the bookstore when the suspect approached him, engaged in conversation, and then touched the student with a taser. The suspect then fled north toward the McWherter Library area.

The suspect was described by the student as:

African-American male in his late 20’s, 5’7”, 190 lbs., medium to heavy build. He was described as having a dark complexion, with beard stubble on his face. The male was wearing sunglasses, a dark wool cap, black jacket with a small Coca-Cola logo on the left front, black pants and black shoes. He had a Bluetooth cell phone device in his right ear. The suspect may have been near the Art Building shortly before the reported incident.

The University of Memphis Police Services is investigating the case. Anyone with information should call the University Police at 678-4357, University Police Detective Ballard at 678-3849, or send information to Police Services through the web at http://bf.memphis.edu/police/confidential.php or by email to police@memphis.edu.

03/24/2008 - UPDATE / ALERT CANCELLED

The Safety Alert issued by the University Police on March 17, 2008, has been cancelled.

On Friday, March 21st, two males were charged with Aggravated Robbery and Kidnapping in connection with the incident that occurred late last Sunday night (March 16th) in the Richardson Towers parking lot. The arrests came as the result of exhaustive investigative work by University Police detectives and the Memphis Police Department. There are no other suspects at large, and the case has been closed and will be submitted to the Attorney General’s Office for prosecution.

We encourage everyone to continue to be observant and immediately report all suspicious activity to the University Police at 678-4357/HELP.

03/17/2008 - ORIGINAL ALERT

Police Services is issuing this message in an effort to continue to ensure the safety of our students, faculty, staff, and visitors.

On 03/17/08 at 4:30 AM, Police Services learned that a student reported to the Memphis Police Department that he had been abducted from the Richardson Towers parking lot and robbed.

The student stated that at approximately 11:30 PM on Sunday March 16, 2008, he walked out of Richardson Towers South. As he was walking into the parking lot, he was approached from behind by a suspect armed with a handgun. The suspect made the student get into a vehicle and he was driven around for several hours. During that time, the suspects took the student’s wallet and other personal items before dropping him off in the area of Summer and Holmes. The student-victim was not injured.

The suspects were described by the victim as:

# 1, armed with the handgun: African-American male, 20-25 years old, 6’3”, 200 lbs., muscular/athletic build, no facial hair except for a small amount on his chin (stubble appearance). He was wearing a black doo rag with what appeared to be braids underneath. He was also wearing a dark tee shirt, blue jacket, dark jeans and white tennis shoes.

# 2, driver of the vehicle: African-American male, 20-25 years old, medium build, hair appeared to be in small twists, no facial hair, front teeth covered with gold “grill.” He was wearing a yellow and black striped polo shirt.

The vehicle was described as White, 4-door, small to mid-size sedan, mid or late 90’s model, possibly a Chevy Impala.

Both the Memphis Police Department and The University of Memphis Police Services are investigating the case. Anyone with information should call University Police Detective Ballard at 678-3849, the MPD Robbery Bureau at 545-3980, Crime Stoppers at 528-CASH, or send information to Police Services through the web at http://bf.memphis.edu/police/confidential.php or by email to police@memphis.edu.

We encourage everyone to remain observant and report ALL suspicious activity to 678-4357 immediately. University Police will be increasing patrols and presence in the area until this investigation is resolved. Additionally, in the evening, we encourage people to walk in groups or use the Tiger Patrol/Police escort program by calling 678-4663.

Police Services encourages everyone to exercise caution at all times, especially since it is still getting dark early in the evening, and practice the following safety tips:

Be aware of your surroundings.
Be alert to suspicious people and vehicles.
Avoid dangerous situations.
Be extra careful with purses and wallets, and avoid displaying large amounts of cash or other tempting targets, such as jewelry.
Travel in groups at night, walking in well-lighted, heavily traveled areas.
Park in well-lighted areas at night, whenever possible.
Always lock your vehicle, making sure windows are closed and all valuables are out of sight.
When approaching your vehicle, have your keys ready and observe what’s going on around you.
Trust your instincts. If something doesn’t feel right or you suspect something is wrong, change directions, go back inside or to a well-lighted, active location.
If you become a crime victim, go to a safe place as soon as possible and call the police.

Additionally, while on campus:

After dusk and before dawn, utilize the Tiger Patrol/Police Services escort program by calling 678-4663 (HOME) for an escort anywhere on campus.
Familiarize yourself with the location of campus emergency telephones, both indoor and outdoor.
If you feel uncomfortable, go to an emergency phone or into a building, and call the University Police at 678-4357 (HELP).

If you observe a crime being committed, or something that appears suspicious to you, please use our Silent Witness web form to report the matter to Police Services. You can report such matters without revealing your identity. The Silent Witness form is located at http://bf.memphis.edu/police/confidential.php.

Additionally, safety brochures for some specific incidents are available at Police Service’s Web site at http://bf.memphis.edu/police.

The University of Memphis cares about your safety and well-being and is working to keep you safe and well informed. Please help us keep the University of Memphis the safest large school in the state.

If you have additional questions, please contact Police Services at police@memphis.edu. We can also be reached at 678-3848.

09/24/2007

Police Services is issuing this message in an effort to continue to ensure the safety of our students, faculty, staff, and visitors.

The University Police learned today that on Friday, September 21, 2007, around 9:30 PM, a student reported that she was confronted after getting out of her car off campus in the 3600 block of Spottswood. The suspect was armed with what was described by the victim as a stainless/silver automatic pistol with a black handle. He grabbed the victim’s arms from behind and demanded her purse. The victim complied and then screamed; residents came to her assistance. The suspect fled the scene and was last seen running westbound towards Highland. The victim was not injured.

SUSPECT INFORMATION:
The victim described the suspect as:

Male
African-American
27-32 years old
5'8"-5'10"
185-200 lbs
Stocky build
Light complexion
Clean shaven

The suspect was last seen wearing a gray t-shirt turned inside-out with a blue t-shirt under it, and a black stocking “doo rag” on his head. The victim further described the suspect as having a large nose, chubby face, and bags beneath his eyes.

09/04/07

Shortly after 10:00 AM on Sunday morning, September 2, 2007, a female visitor jogging on campus, was followed by a male suspect into the Fieldhouse. The suspect accosted the victim and exposed himself to her. The victim yelled and ran from the building. When the victim screamed, someone heard her and came to her aid. The suspect fled the scene. The victim was not injured.

SUSPECT INFORMATION: Male; described by the victim as possibly Hispanic; in his 20’s; medium/light complexion; 5'5"-5'7"; 160 – 170 lbs; stocky build; brown eyes; very dark, thick, natural-styled hair; and light mustache. The suspect was wearing running/exercise clothes, which consisted of a dark blue tee shirt with a horizontal red stripe across chest, matching dark blue shorts below the knee in length with a wide red stripe down the side, and dark athletic shoes.

Prior to the incident, the suspect was observed jogging on Norriswood near the McWherter library.

01/25/07

On 22 January about 2320 hours, a female U of M student was accosted in the area of the 300 block of Patterson. The victim was approached while attempting to get into her vehicle. The suspect grabbed the victim, released her, and then exposed himself. The victim was able to escape unharmed and report the incident to University Police. Approximately an hour later in the area of Desoto and State another female student was approached as she was getting into her car. The suspect grabbed her, but she escaped unharmed. There was a witness to the second incident. In both incidents there were different clothing descriptions; however the incidents might be related. If you have information concerning either of these incidents, please contact Detective Sammie Ballard, University Police, at 678-3849, or Sergeant Paul Pritt, MPD Sex Crimes Bureau, at 545-5330.

Suspect Information
Sex: Male
Race: African-American
HT/WT: 5’06” to 5’09” / 170 lbs.
Age range: 22 to 25 years old
Physical description: Average build, dark clothing or black, red, blue team jacket (possibly NASCAR related team) In light of the above incidents, and as we begin a new academic term, we would like to remind everyone to continue to be safety conscious. In 2005, the University of Memphis had the lowest crime rate among the large schools in Tennessee (i.e., 5,000 or greater campus population). In 2006, the numbers were almost identical to 2005. When the statistics are released later this year, we expect the results to be the same. We are requesting your assistance to help us make 2007 another very safe year for the University of Memphis.

12/05/06

Police Services is issuing this alert in an effort to ensure the safety of our students, faculty, staff, and visitors on the campus and in the neighborhoods adjacent to the campus. Recently, there have been three robberies in the area of Patterson and Midland, two of which may be related. The incidents occurred at night between 8:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m. The vehicle used in two of the robberies is described as a gray or silver, medium sized, 4-door, newer model vehicle, occupied by three male subjects. In all three incidents, the victims cooperated and were not injured. For additional details concerning these incidents, please look at the reports from 11/17/06, 11/22/06, and 12/04/06.

As a result of these incidents and during the holiday season, we are encouraging you to exercise caution at all times and practice the following safety tips:

Be aware of your surroundings.
Be alert to suspicious people and vehicles.
Avoid dangerous situations.
Be extra careful with purses and wallets, and avoid displaying large amounts of cash or other tempting targets, such as jewelry.
Travel in groups at night, walking in well-lit, heavily traveled areas.
Park in well-lighted areas at night, whenever possible.
Always lock your vehicle, making sure windows are closed and all valuables are out of sight.
When approaching your vehicle, have your keys out and observe what's going on around you.
Trust your instincts. If something doesn't feel right or you suspect something is wrong, change directions, go back inside or to a well-lighted, active location.
If you become a crime victim, go to a safe place as soon as possible and call the police.

Additionally, while on campus:

After dusk and before dawn, use the Tiger Patrol/Police Services escort program by calling 678-4663 for an escort anywhere on campus.
Familiarize yourself with the location of campus emergency telephones, both indoor and outdoor.
If you feel uncomfortable, go to an emergency phone or into a building, and call the University Police (678-HELP).

The University of Memphis is concerned about your safety and well-being and is working to keep you safe and well informed.

If you have additional questions, please contact Police Services at police@memphis.edu.

02/27/06

The University of Memphis is committed to the safety and wellbeing of its students, faculty, and staff and does everything possible to maintain a safe and secure campus, including the issuance of Safety Alerts whenever necessary. The U of M Department of Police Services is issuing this alert in an effort to ensure the safety of our students, faculty, staff, and visitors on the campus and in the neighborhoods adjacent to the campus.

On Wednesday, February 22, 2006, at approximately 9:35 p.m., a student resident reported to University Police that she had just been the victim of an attempted robbery that occurred near Smith Hall, 416 Patterson Street. The student was not injured and none of her property was taken.

The student told police officers that she was walking alone between Smith Hall and Rawls Hall when an unknown male came up behind her, pointed a pistol at her and demanded money. When the student told the male she didn't have any money, he told her to leave the area. A witness said the male was last seen running south, and then possibly west and away from the campus.

The suspect was described as a male African-American 23-30 years old, 5'6"-6'0" tall, 180 pounds, medium build, possibly with a dark complexion, clean shaven, wearing a dark hooded jacket (possibly blue fleece) and either black or dark sweat pants/warm-up pants. The male was armed with a small silver, possibly automatic pistol.

University police officers have been instructed to focus their patrols in the area. Police Services has been and remains in communication with the Memphis Police Department to share information related to this incident.

This alert is being issued to remind everyone to be cautious at all times, observe what's going on around you, and try not to walk alone. Some of the most common distractions are cell phones and personal music devices. If you are walking alone and feel threatened, go to the nearest public place and call the University Police at 678-4357 (HELP). Remember that the campus emergency phones and parking gate phones can be used for immediate contact with the University Police. We also recommend that you program the Police phone number into your cell phone, preferably into speed dial. While on campus after dusk and before dawn, call 678-4663 (HOME) for a Tiger Patrol escort.

If you become a crime victim, remember that it is usually in your best interests to comply with the criminal's demands. As soon as you can, go to a safe place and call the police. When the police arrive, tell the police as much as you can remember about the suspect, such as gender, race, approximate age, height, weight and build, eye color, hair color and style, a clothing description, and the direction in which the suspect fled. Prompt reporting to the police greatly increases their chances of solving crimes.

If you witness a crime or have information about a crime, you can report the information anonymously by submitting a “Silent Witness” report by visiting http://bf.memphis.edu/police or by calling CrimeStoppers at 528-(CASH). Police Services also encourages you to contact them at 678-4357 (HELP) anytime you witness what you think is suspicious activity.

The University of Memphis is concerned about your safety and well-being and is working to keep you safe and well informed.

01/25/06

Although none of the following events occurred on the University of Memphis campus, they did occur in the neighborhood nearby, so the U of M Department of Police Services is issuing this alert in an effort to ensure the safety of our students, faculty, staff, and visitors on the campus and in the neighborhoods adjacent to the campus.

Over the past three days, there have been three armed robberies in the University area. None of the victims were injured; however, the suspect was armed with a shotgun. The incidents occurred on Sunday, January 22nd and Monday, January 23rd. All three incidents occurred between midnight and 6 a.m. The armed robberies were in the 3500 block of Midland , 3400 block of Carnes, and the 600 block of Brister.

The suspect description is similar in all three incidents: a male African–American, 19-23 years old, 5'6" to 5'9" tall, 140-160 lbs, wearing all dark clothing and a black baseball cap. In addition, he may be wearing a black hooded jacket, black combat boots, and blue jeans with a torn left leg. One victim described him as clean shaven. There were also witnesses who advised there were possibly two male African–American accomplices, who remained in vehicles used in the crimes.

This alert is being issued to remind everyone be cautious at all times, observe what's going on around you, and try not to walk alone. Some of the most common distractions are cell phones and personal music devices. If you are walking alone and feel threatened, go to the nearest public place and call the University Police at 678-4357 (HELP). Remember that the campus emergency phones and parking gate phones can be used for immediate contact with the University Police. We also recommend that you program the Police phone number into your cell phone, preferably into speed dial. While on campus after dusk and before dawn, call 678-4663 (HOME) for a Tiger Patrol escort.

Police Services is remaining in constant communication with the Memphis Police Department to monitor any developments related to these incidents. The MPD's Robbery Bureau can be contacted at 545-3980. University police officers will also be instructed to focus their patrols in the area.

The University of Memphis is concerned about your safety and well-being and is working to keep you safe and well informed.

07/20/05

Although none of the following events occurred on campus, the University of Memphis Department of Public Safety is issuing this alert in an effort to ensure the safety of our students, faculty, staff and visitors.

Over the past eight days, there have been two armed robberies and one attempted robbery in the University area. None of the victims were injured .

The incidents occurred on Tuesday, July 12; Thursday, July 14; and Tuesday, July 19. All three incidents occurred between 11:00 a.m. and noon. In the two robberies (3600 block of Midland and 3700 block of Spottswood), the suspect was armed with a handgun. In the attempted robbery (3500 block of Cowden), a weapon was not seen or displayed.

While the first incident may not be related, there are similarities between the two most recent incidents (Spottswood and Cowden), which prompted this alert. In those two incidents, the suspect was in a vehicle and pulled up next to the victim and demanded the victim's backpack.

In the Spottswood incident on July 14, the suspect was described as an African-American male, 25-30 years old, with two upper front teeth missing. The suspect's hair description varied between two witnesses: one reporting short hair, close cut, natural style, and the other reported long front to back braids. The suspect was driving what was described as a smaller model green car, possibly a Neon or Saturn, with dark green interior and possible damage/dent to one side.

The suspect in the Cowden incident on July 19 was described as an African-American male, 30-40 years old, 5'10", 175 lbs., medium build, medium complexion, with braided hair. He was reportedly driving a purple/blue older model 4-door, possibly a Nissan Sentra, in good condition.

10/29/04

The University is issuing this alert in an effort to ensure the safety of our students, faculty, staff and visitors, and to provide timely information to the University community.

A student reported that on Tuesday, October 26, 2004, at approximately 8:45 PM, she was attacked near the northwest section of the Central Parking Lot as she was getting into her car to leave campus. An unknown male approached her and asked for directions, then threw her to the ground and kicked her several times. The student reported she was slammed into a car and received cuts from a bladed instrument the male was brandishing, perhaps a straight-edged razor. The student was able to break away from the male and return to her vehicle. She got into her vehicle and drove away from campus. The information we've received is that the student's injuries were not life-threatening and did not require immediate medical attention. According to the student, her assailant was a large male, tall, perhaps 6'2"-6'4", wearing a long-sleeve dark turtleneck, gray pants, mask and gloves.

Police Services learned about the incident the following morning from people on campus who had been told about the incident. Police Services immediately initiated attempts to contact the student and briefly spoke with her later that day. We have not been able to conduct a detailed interview with the student and obtain a formal statement. Therefore we have limited information to pass along at this time. The investigation is continuing. Police Services consulted the Memphis Police Department and they have no reports of any recent, similar attacks in this area. Police Services will keep the University community informed of any critical information that becomes available. In the interim, our police officers are focusing their patrols in and around the parking lots.

03/15/03

Although this incident occurred during spring break while most everyone was away from campus, the University is issuing this alert in an effort to ensure the safety of our students, faculty, staff and visitors.

At 12:40 AM on Saturday, March 15, 2003, a student was alone and walking east on Veterans Avenue when a male who had followed the victim on to the campus approached him. The suspect had called out to the victim to get his attention and presumably to get the victim to slow down and wait for him. The suspect was armed and demanded the victim's wallet. The victim complied and the suspect removed a small amount of cash and credit, debit, and ID cards from the wallet. The suspect then left and was last seen walking north on Patterson toward Central Avenue. No vehicle was seen in the area.

The victim described the suspect as an African-American male, 20-25 years of age, 6'2", 170 lbs., thin build, short black hair, clean shaven, neat appearance, wearing a dark shirt and blue jeans. The victim also described the suspect as calm and well-spoken.

This alert is being issued to remind everyone to take extra precautions while out at night. If you are on campus, call 678-4663 or 678-4357 for a Tiger Patrol or Police escort. Remember to always observe what's going on around you and try not to walk alone. However, if you are walking alone and you feel threatened, go to the nearest public place and call the University Police. Remember that the campus emergency phones and parking gate phones can be used to immediately contact the University Police.

08/23/02

The following information is excerpted from a Memphis Police Department news release on August 22, 2002, concerning two off-campus crimes that victimized two University of Memphis students. Although these incidents occurred off-campus, the University is issuing this alert in an effort to ensure the safety of our students, faculty, staff and visitors.

On Thursday, 08-22-02, at approximately 1:30 AM, a Robbery and Sexual Assault occurred off campus at the Southern Woods Apartments in the 3600 block of Southern. The suspects were armed with a handgun. The suspects are described as follows:

1. African-American male, in his early 20's, 5'10", dark skin, chubby build, black hair, wearing a white tank top and shorts.

2. African-American male, in his early 20's, 6'4", dark skin, thin build, black hair, wearing a t-shirt and shorts.

The Sex Crimes division of the Memphis Police Department is handling these cases. If anyone has information regarding these they can call the Sex Crimes Bureau at 545-5330 or Crime Stoppers at 528-CASH.

A similar off-campus incident occurred on Thursday, August 1, 2002, in the 3400 block of Southern (west of Highland Street) in the Barclay House Apartments.

02/16/02

An off-campus crime against a U of M student took place on February 16, 2002. At 1:43 AM, a male U of M student was the victim of an attempted robbery on the parking lot of the apartment complex at 532 Brister. According to the Memphis Police report, the victim was walking across the parking lot when the suspect, armed with what appeared to be a black revolver, approached and demanded all of the victim's money.

The suspect said he wasn't kidding and then fired one shot, striking the victim in the leg. The victim ran from the scene and the suspect fled without taking anything from the victim. The suspect was described as an African-American male, approximately 6'1", slim build, with short, natural hair, and was wearing a short-sleeved shirt at the time. No further description is currently available. Witnesses reported seeing a white car (no further description) in the area at the time the event occurred. The white car was occupied by one person but it is unknown if the vehicle was involved.