OT: Police Activity at Angell Hall

Submitted by JeepinBen on

According to twitter lots of police cars with heavy weapons showed up at Angell hall. As RT'd by Zach Helfand: "@janawritesalot: Re: Angell Hall: Someone in military fatigues walked in w/ a gas mask, sign reading "Love is in the air. Be prepared."

I hope everyone is OK and safe, I'll update when I get more info.

UPDATE 1: Daily said DPS Spokeswoman Diane Brown said no imminent danger

Noleverine

February 14th, 2013 at 1:32 PM ^

I don''t think he did it with melicious intent, which is important. He did something he thought would be funny without realizing how other people would view it.

This is based on absolutely nothing, of course.

CleverMichigan…

February 14th, 2013 at 3:04 PM ^

But my former roommate. Fled DPS by "going to the bathroom." She went in the restroom in West Quad, hopped out the fifth floor window, climbed over to another room's window, had them let her in, then escaped out their door out of view of DPS, and booked it to a friend's room in Newberry. No phone, no shoes, just an open window and the rest of us trying to prove to the officers that we weren't in on it.

Blue in Yarmouth

February 14th, 2013 at 1:30 PM ^

I mean...I know there are some pretty socially awkward people out there that really are oblivious to societal norms and rules of conduct, but this guy must be one of the most ignorant that I have heard of.

Given the things that have happened in various parts of the world since 9/11 (and before, but seemingly more pronounced since then) one would have to be a complete moran to not understand the implications of such a display.He should spend some time in jail for this whether it was a joke or not. Maybe 24 hours in lock-up would bring home the gavity of what he did.

spacemanspiff231

February 14th, 2013 at 1:43 PM ^

He had obviously innocent intent. People like you are the idiots for not seeing such a clearly constructed joke. It's people like you that see a few bad things happen in the world and then see shadows with knives in every corner that are the idiots. You're the one that is socially awkward with no connection to reality.

Blue in Yarmouth

February 14th, 2013 at 2:46 PM ^

So I am the one with the problem....got it. I am not going to get into a heated debate on the topic, but I will say this: I think it is a person who shows no indication of any awareness of current events that has no connection to reality. Jokes are fine, and I love a good joke, but there is a time and place that could render any joke, no matter how well intended, humourless. 

If we were to ignore all of the terrorist acts of recent years (which are far more than the "few" you state in your post) from shootings, to bombings, to anthrax laced letters and any number of others than it could be considered funny. However, those things have happened (and continue to happen on a fairly regular basis) and a persons inability to distinguish at what point a joke in that vein would be in poor taste speaks to ones ability to cennect with reality IMHE.

Again, sorry you took such great offense to my post as to start calling me (someone you have never met) an idiot, but I completely disagree with your position on this. 

highestman

February 14th, 2013 at 4:09 PM ^

During my Jr. year, a guy in a mask came into our lecture hall, and snatched a womans purse.  The girl screamed seemed very afraid, and everyone was a bit shellshocked.  Quickely, a guy in a spiderman suit came in and fought off the guy, and returned the purse (apparenty there was a group on campus that liked to play jokes like this and film them).

I'm not afraid to admit. I was personally scared shitless for a few seconds.  I'm not the type of person that see's shadows with knives either, but I dam well felt like this guy was about to pull a weapon on us.  One GSI even immedetly ran out and called the cops before we found out it was just a prank (she was even shaking for a little while after word).  While I completely understand that their intent was innocent, that did not make it ok.  Its not fun at all to go through that, even when you find out you were ok all along.  I'm glad that GSI called the cops that day, and I'm glad someone called the cops (at least i'm assuming....it sounds like they did) on this guy today.  If the situation were real, you would not want people waiting aroung going "Gee, hold on guys, lets make sure we know all the facts before we judge the man who just came in and stole a girls purse."  

LSA Superstar

February 14th, 2013 at 4:45 PM ^

I'm actually glad someone mentioned this.  This event took place near the end of the Spring Semester of 2009 in the MLB.  I've posted this before on this board but I had a unique perspective on these kinds of jokes.

I was upstairs taking an unproctored exam (???) for a Russian Culture class with about twenty other students.  I forget the name of the class or the professor, but David Moosman took it (he wasn't in my discussion section, though, and didn't take the exam at the same time in the same room so missed out on the drama to follow).  The police responded in a big way, storming into our room on the top floor and disrupting the exam.  I remember the police officer had body armor and an assault weapon.  He shouted "DID ANYONE COME THIS WAY WITH A GUN" and pandemonium instantly erupted - screaming, shouting, the whole bit.  I began to stack shit by the door with this other dude.  Some guy smashed the computer/projector cart trying to barracade the door.  We turned off the lights and huddled in the corner for forty minutes until I called DPS by reading the number off the back of my Mcard (I worked in the Mcard Center all four years!!!) and they gave us the all clear.

I'm not a melodramatic guy and I'm certainly no moment of heroism fetishist, but I seriously thought there was a chance I would die that day.  We were in the dark for over a half hour.  Girls were crying and stuff.  The Virginia Tech masscre was fresh in our minds.

Jokes own and funny people are objectively awesome, but "look at me" stuff can be easily misintepreted and we have good reasons now to be sensitive.

What really makes me shiver is that when it first happened and we all went to the corner I seriously thought about breaking a window and getting on the roof to try and climb down.  There was this voice in the back of my head chanting "do it, save yourself."  I didn't do it and I waited it out and it was just a stupid prank but I thank higher powers I had that restraint.  The sides of the MLB are very slick and I probably would have fallen.  If I'd fallen I might have been seriously hurt.

I've always wanted to meet someone else in that class that day to reminisce because it was really, really surreal and it's not a story you can tell because I feel nobody would believe me.

highestman

February 14th, 2013 at 7:13 PM ^

Wow man, I've never heard the story from that perspective, thanks for sharing.

I was in the lecture hall in the MLB, and I had no idea the place was stormed by the cops like that.  I think I recall the cops arriving, but they never came into the actual lecture hall, and I had no idea they went searching the building.   

I also can completely understand the way you reacted.  When you don't know its a prank, you start diving into emotions you've likely never really experienced before.  To actually be thinking that your current actions could mean life or death is pretty insane, and as you say, surreal.  I know I remember when the guy came in and grabbed the purse, the girl shouted "whats he doing".  It was not in a joking way at all, her fear was very real both in her voice, and her face.

I really don't understand what those guys thought would be so cool about this.  As people watched the mock fight it was just really awkward.  I'm completely fine with harmless pranks, but all I could think about was how stupid those kids were to not realize what they had done was completely idiotic.  I hope the kid who was in Angel hall today learned his lesson.  I think you and I can both say this is not at all about people being overly sensative to an issue or not being able to take a joke.  No one deserves to ever be put in a situation where they believe their life is in danger.

Blue in Yarmouth

February 14th, 2013 at 5:37 PM ^

I was talking 24 hours in lockup to consider what he did and the resources he wasted, not real jail time. I spent longer in lockup for having a gram of weed and a couple of joints because I would roll over on the guy I bought it from. I didn't mean he should get an actual jail sentence. Just wanted to make that clear.

BlueBarron

February 14th, 2013 at 1:35 PM ^

Just walked through Angell/Tisch hall about 20 minutes ago and didn't see anything police/DPS officials or anything suspicious. Doesn't seem to be any panic. Daily HQ is abuzz trying to figure out what's going on, though.

Shorty the Bea…

February 14th, 2013 at 1:51 PM ^

So I show up to my noon class on the Origins of Naziism in AUD A in Angel Hall and a guy from my discussion group for the same class sits down next to me.  He is a bit odd and eccentric, wearing his old style army cammo trousers and lace-up black leather boots.  His nose piercing reminds of a bull.  His black leather jacket has a patch on the right shoulder that has a spartan helmet in the middle surrounded by the text Skin Heads Against Racial Prejudice, or SHARP.  He wears this outfit everyday, so I am not alarmed in the least.  Today, he was also carrying a gas mask with red lenses and "a fresh new filter."  Additionally, he has a poster of a lolcat wishing everyone a happy Valentine's in his own way.  I think "whatevs" as he explains the cuteness of this to me.  For the record, I am also a former Marine whose job in the Corps was akin to that of a SWAT member specializing in room clearing and building security.  Additionally, we received training in profiling those who we might want to "keep and eye on".  Despite his eccentricity, I have not viewed Ol' boy as a threat, reading his mannerisms, personability towards others, and his SHARP patch (being a big indicator for me).  As class begins our teacher starts off by saying that "not everyone is in class yet because there are tons of cops outside with machine guns not letting people into the building, but I don't want to cause a panic."  Nice.  Ol' boy turns to me and says, "well if they've got tear gas I'll be ready" and chuckles contentedly as he often does.  We were not able to get any information as to why the police presence was needed.  He seemed clueless as well.  I only discovered this revelation as I sat down during this break hour.  I have discussion next and will certainly inform Ol' boy of the distress that he caused others.  It was just a misunderstanding, but not acceptable either.  Lastly, I'm a longtime reader (2005) first time poster.  Go blue and Semper Fi to all the devils on the board.  And Happy Valentine's Day in a non-scary way to all the MgoBloggers out there!

CRex

February 14th, 2013 at 1:59 PM ^

If this is true, you should likely place a call to DPS and inform them of this guy's name (or if you don't know it, give them the prof's name since the teacher will have a roster) and also mention to the cops when and where his next class is.  The sooner they can talk to him and sort this out, the sooner they issue an official all clear as opposed to stating they "think" there was no threat.  A Marine on duty has no friends.

Ham

February 14th, 2013 at 2:20 PM ^

It's interesting how the University was concerned enough to send police officers with assault rifles into the building, but apparently not concerend enough to notify the classrooms about what was happening. I have a class from 11:30 - 1 pm in Mason Hall and had absolutely no idea that all of this was going on.

CRex

February 14th, 2013 at 2:34 PM ^

How did I know he was College of Engineering before even reading the article?  Damn you North Campus and your stereotypes.  Serousily though he looks like the younger brother of my EECS 280 GSI just based on the buzzed head and the clothing choices.  

Also that Iron Cross on the jacket, that is the string that ties all his stupidity together in one nice package.  

Shorty the Bea…

February 14th, 2013 at 3:19 PM ^

He came into class with the GSI and told me he was interrogated during the 1-2PM hour time slot for about 20 mins.  A little bit sheepish and quiet in class, but nothing else to note about the incident.  Yup, that was him alright.  Bit dopey on that one.  Sinister appearances and equipment on a campus is like yelling "bomb" on an airplane these days.  Nothing good is going to come from it.