Police Report: The funny things criminals say

Need directions?

A man reported that he was sprayed in the face with what he believed was pepper spray or mace after he approached a truck with three men inside. He told police he thought the men were asking for directions when they motioned to him, but instead one passenger sprayed him with a liquid substance that felt “hot and burning.”

The man did not know the people in the car, but he did write down the license plate number. Police have contacted the driver, who is supposed to come into the police station Tuesday to answer questions.

According to Detective Mike McPharlin, the driver thought he was receiving a prank call when officers called him to set up the questioning. The victim did not seek medical attention and told police he vomited later that afternoon after feeling sick all day from the substance.

Intimidating a professor

A professor caught a student in another professor’s office looking through papers stacked on the desk. When the professor told the student to stop what he was doing and leave, the professor told police the student puffed up his chest and tried to intimidate her.

He asked her why she was being rude, according to the report. The student finally left and the professor called police. Because the professor knew the student’s name, the incident was reported to the Student Behavior Committee and the student may face criminal charges.

Just being stupid

Police arrived at Research Park after being notified of “shots fired.” When they arrived, police found two men in a vehicle leaving the parking lot.

The officers stopped the men and asked them what they were doing. One man replied they were “being stupid” and setting off dry-ice bombs. Officers found the remnants of the bombs and made the men clean up the mess. An investigation is underway and the men could face charges of disorderly conduct and possession of an incendiary device.

Burglary in progress

Police were called to deal with a burglary in progress at the Guardsman Way parking lot. As an officer pulled into the lot, he noticed a suspicious car exiting and pulled it over.

Three car stereos and other property were found inside the car. The two suspects told police they bought the stereos from a man at a gas station. After further investigation, police learned that two cars had been burglarized in the lot. However, the stereos inside the suspects’ car were not the same ones missing from the burglarized cars.

Communication was difficult-the suspects didn’t speak English and an interpreter had to help police. Although the property couldn’t immediately be linked to any vehicle burglaries on campus, police still believed the men had stolen property in their possession and booked them into jail on charges of vehicle burglary, criminal mischief and theft.

Compiled by Cara Wieser