Recently, OCU faced a small spree of break-ins on campus.
After the car break-ins that occurred on campus last November into early December, there have now been four separate instances of break-ins to buildings on campus within the last two weeks.
After the break in at the Cokesbury Court Apartments laundry room on Jan. 15, another incident occurred somewhere between late Jan. 20 or early Jan. 21 in the OCU baseball locker room, officials said.
Baseball locker room break-in
According to Denney Crabaugh, head coach of the baseball team, the locker room was ransacked, with many of the items in the lockers, the coaches’ dressing room, the hitting room, and the coaches’ offices rummaged through and thrown about from their original locations.
“When I arrived, I saw that all the stuff had been thrown around, and what the person had done was take our laundry basket and bags that were in there and just started stuffing random stuff into different places,” Crabaugh said. “We don’t know who it was, but they took every hand warmer that he could find, and, other than those, it was just random stuff. What we did have missing in regards to more expensive stuff was some guys had a couple of pairs of sunglasses stolen, including a pair of Oakley prescription sunglasses, as well as a Bose speaker that were never found.”
Henry J. Freede Wellness and Activity Center break-in
Two days later, on Jan. 23, a separate incident occurred in which a young man was apprehended by campus police officers inside the Henry J. Freede Wellness and Activity Center. Officer Kristal Reynolds first reported to the scene and found the individual in the kitchen of the building making a sandwich. In her documented report, she said there was a glass door that had been shattered with a rock. She also said that when talking to the suspect, he continuously changed his answers about why he was there and how he got in. Along with making a sandwich, the suspect had also gone into the laundry room and changed out of his clothes into an OCU basketball team practice uniform. Officer Adan Viloria then arrived on the scene and took the suspect into custody. It was also assumed by campus police that the subject appeared to be under the influence of some form of narcotics, but specifics were unknown.
Sergeant Mark LaHue said he does not believe the break-in at the baseball locker room and the Henry J. Freede Wellness Center were committed by the same individual, though they do plan to question the suspect about the events.
“Just the way it was done, it just seems like it was probably some kids,” LaHue said. “The Freede suspect was not in the capacity to be interviewed when we first picked him up, and when they are in that state, there’s no benefit of us sitting down and asking questions. But, he is locked in Oklahoma County Jail right now, and we plan to follow up with interviewing him as soon as possible.”
Suspicious person in Edith Kinney Gaylord Center
The night before the break-in at the Freede Center, a man, who witnesses said they believe to be the same individual that has been arrested, was seen walking around the Edith Kinney Gaylord Center building.
Bridget Alcox, dance universal freshman, witnessed the individual in the building on the night of Jan. 22.
“So I was talking to my friend before I had rehearsal, and she noticed that there was a man walking behind us,” Alcox said. “There was no one else around at the time and he seemed kind of off, so she asked if he needed help or was looking for something. He said that he was looking for the bathroom, so she showed him where it was.”
Alcox said she spoke with Dean John Bedford, who then led the man out of the building.
“The other student I had been with said that she overheard him say something about wanting to sleep there, so I am assuming that is why he actually came in,” she said.
Alcox was shown the image of the man who was arrested and said she believed it was the same individual she saw in the Ann Lacy School of Dance and Entertainment building.
The suspect is being held at the Oklahoma County Jail on a second degree burglary charge. Campus police officials said they plan to question him soon when he is able to respond properly to questioning.
If students notice any suspicious behavior on campus, they can call campus police at 405-208-5911 or download the Rave Gaurdian App on any mobile device which connects directly to campus police.
Leave a Reply