On Aug. 19, a student entered the Winthrop University Police Department lobby to report a video that had been posted on Instagram. The informant told Winthrop police that a video had been shared on the university’s main page and that the video showed an unidentified man holding what appeared to be a black pistol. The video featured a map pin drop and the words “Winthrop University” on the screen. The reporting officer was unable to establish where the suspect might be or if the pistol was real or not. The case remains active pending further review.
On Aug. 21, a Winthrop University police officer pulled over a vehicle that was driving the wrong way on Alumni Drive. The officer initiated a traffic stop in front of Tillman Hall and detected the odor of marijuana while talking to the suspect. The officer asked if there was anything illegal in the vehicle and the suspect told the officer that there was a small amount of marijuana in the vehicle. Upon searching the vehicle, the officer discovered a bag of marijuana as well as drug paraphernalia. The two grams of marijuana taken from the vehicle were placed into evidence and the paraphernalia was disposed of after being photographed. The suspect was booked and released with a citation for Possession of Marijuana 1st Offense.
On Sept. 2, an assault involving two Winthrop students took place on Scholars Walk around 11:45 p.m. The victim was approached by the accused at the West Center and a “heated discussion” ensued, according to WUPD. The victim attempted to leave the presence of the accused, but the accused “would not let the victim walk away.” As the victim began walking down Scholars Walk, the accused began to “physically assault the victim,” according to the incident report. A co-worker of the accused intervened and got between the victim and the accused in an attempt to separate them. The victim declined to press charges. As a result of the incident, the accused was referred to the Dean of Students.
On Sept. 9, a WUPD officer met with a Winthrop student about a reported assault that took place in the “gamer’s corner” of the Digiorgio Campus Center. According to the report, the victim said that the students were “bantering with each other as usual.” After the victim called out the name of the accused, he responded by threatening the victim. The victim said something else to the accused. The accused then picked up his backpack and struck the victim in the face, according to the report. The victim suffered “minor injuries” as a result of the reported assault and went to Health Services, who “instructed” the victim to contact WUPD. Officers reviewed surveillance footage at the time of the incident and the responding officer subsequently determined that there was “enough probable cause” to issue a warrant for the arrest of the accused.
