Report: Security Lapse Allowed Unauthorized Individual Into Big House

Submitted by Geaux_Blue on

News report at 11 will feature a report that an individual in the military was able to sneak into the Big House during the UM/MSU football game with a non-loaded weapon. 

Details are available via this Ann Arbor.com report

 

A member of the military who didn't have a ticket to the University of Michigan-Michigan State game was able to make his way onto the field undetected armed with two rifles, campus police confirmed this afternoon.

But U-M police spokeswoman Diane Brown said the weapons did not have ammunition and were checked before he entered the stadium. She said no one was in danger at any point.

"It was very unfortunate that this man abused his uniform and his position to gain access to the stadium unauthorized," Brown said this afternoon. "It's very disappointing."

The 42-year-old man's name has not been released, and it's unclear where he is stationed or what discipline he could face from the military. Brown said he is in the National Guard and is based in Southeast Michigan.

While the news blurb was a bit of sensationalism, this is still a bit bothersome.  

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mgobleu

October 20th, 2010 at 11:03 PM ^

Sorry, I know you've heard the beginning of the next sentence a billion times by now, but; Since 9/11, I frequently find myself thinking about terrorist attacks when I'm at a large event or a largely populated place. Like the cruise we took to Alaska; we had coast guard gunboats escorting us into dock, but through the northwest passage, any boat could ride straight up to the massive, 4,000+ person cruiseship if they wanted and noone on board could do anything about it. In the big house, if someone really wanted to, they could get a bomb in. And if someone were so inclined, you'd have to imagine that the biggest stadium in the country which on any given saturday, likely contains the largest gathering of people in the country, if not the world at that particular time, would be right up there on their list. And I guess in my opinion, a ban on bags and water bottles, and a quick glance from a ticket checker at the turnstile doesn't fill me with a great deal of confidence for the safety of such a huge crowd.

I know all the extra security really sucks, and I won't act like I've never bitched about long lines at an aiport, but I'm still surprised security isn't tighter at college games.

Joined: 07/02/2008

MGoPoints: 38428

clarkiefromcanada

October 21st, 2010 at 12:08 AM ^

I think what likely pisses off most people, who are generally cool about reasonable security precautions, is the absolute arbitrariness and/or lack of common sense as relates to Michigan's rules for what you could bring in the stadium. For example, you can't bring a water bottle or a camera bag but you could bring in a seat pad (provided it's size/width are to the spec.). Common sense would tell you that you could probably hide whatever in a seat pad about as easy as a Coolpix camera bag.

I'm somewhat surprised security is not tighter at games although I'm more surprised how limited common sense is within it's implementation.

Joined: 11/20/2008

MGoPoints: 49257

doughboy

October 20th, 2010 at 11:14 PM ^

I thought this was about the para-trooper who parachuted into the stadium with the game ball.  I could just see someone looking up some rule that showed he was illegally entering the stadium.

Joined: 10/27/2009

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Don

October 21st, 2010 at 3:15 PM ^

He bought the uniform at a rental place down in West Lafayette, and his next-door neighbor is in the Indiana NG and gave him the empty rifle.

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 148288

iawolve

October 21st, 2010 at 3:31 PM ^

Which should always be priority number one unless you give enough money to sit in a box. Guns I suppose fall much further down the list of concerns after non-students using student tickets and sitting in the wrong section.

Joined: 11/03/2008

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