On Jan. 27, an officer and a sergeant with the Winthrop University Police Department responded to the softball parking lot near the Winthrop Coliseum, “in reference to a white male slumped over in a green pickup truck.” According to the report, the truck was still running when WUPD arrived and the driver (who is not affiliated with the university) was “passed out asleep.” WUPD asked the driver if he had anything illegal in the truck and he informed them that he had “his methadone medicine.” He told the officers that he had taken it two hours prior. The driver consented to a search of his vehicle. Following the search, WUPD was informed that the driver’s license was suspended for “failure to pay traffic tickets.” The suspect was arrested and charged with “DUS 2nd offense” and was taken to the city jail in Rock Hill for processing.
WUPD responded to Tillman Hall on Jan. 28 after a member of Winthrop’s faculty/staff called “in reference to a suspicious person.” According to the report, the complainant told WUPD that the suspect (who has no Winthrop affiliation) said that he had “driven from Ohio looking for his ex-girlfriend” who is affiliated with the university. The complainant told the subject to speak with WUPD for any further assistance. Two WUPD officers spoke with the subject who “stated that while he was doing Missionary work in [New York City], he received an epiphany and that Jesus had spoken to him in reference to his ex-girlfriend.” According to the report, the subject “continued on saying that he was told by Jesus that he needed to drive to the Winthrop University campus and attempt to make contact with the Victim; the first in over [eight] months.” The subject told WUPD that the two had planned to go to the same school after graduation but that her family had moved away. The report states that when the subject was asked to elaborate, “all he said was her parents wanted her to get away from the people in Illinois.” The subject repeatedly said that all he wanted to do was talk to the victim. A WUPD officer was able to make contact with the victim’s father who said that the subject was not to have any contact with his daughter and that the subject was the reason they moved away from Illinois. The victim’s father further said that the subject had made two visits to their home. According to the report, the family had attempted to speak with police in their area regarding the subject but were “told to contact them when another incident occurs.” WUPD made contact with the victim who told them that the subject had sent several dozen letters in the past six months and that “she does not want any contact with [the subject] at all.” The victim was told to contact WUPD immediately if any further incidents occurred and was referred to the appropriate office should a restraining order be sought. The subject has been “placed on indefinite trespass notice for all Winthrop University property.”
On Jan. 29, a WUPD officer received a call “in reference to retrieving items” from a member of the Winthrop faculty/staff. The officer met with the complainant who “stated that he had located a box of Vaporizer Pens that he believed contained Marijuana (THC) in them.” The officer took the items to “place them into Evidence for destruction.”
On Jan. 30, a WUPD officer was on a stationary patrol when he observed a vehicle fail to make a complete stop at a stop sign, according to the report. The report states that the officer “observed the same vehicle fail to come to a complete stop” at another intersection. The officer then initiated a traffic stop and made contact with the driver, who is a Winthrop student. The officer asked why the driver “was in such a hurry” to which the driver responded that “she was on her way to work.” The officer ran the driver’s license and discovered that it was “suspended due to a collision.” The officer then ran the license plate and found that it was also suspended, according to the report. The officer informed the driver that both her license and license plate were suspended and a towing company was contacted in order to tow the vehicle. The driver was “cited for driving under suspension.”
On Feb. 3, an officer with the WUPD responded to a hit-and-run incident. The officer made contact with the “Reporting Party” who is affiliated with Winthrop. The R/P told the officer what the suspect vehicle’s license plate is “which came back to a white Ford Fusion.” The officer was “unsuccessful in locating the vehicle” at that time. The officer left the victim a voicemail informing him that “his vehicle had been struck by another vehicle.” The officer discovered the identity of the registered owner of the suspect vehicle and a WUPD sergeant was sent to speak with the owner. The sergeant “informed [the officer[ that the registered owner was not the one driving the vehicle at the time.” The officer was also “informed that the vehicle had old damage around the entire vehicle and no blue paint was located on the Suspect Vehicle.” WUPD was unsuccessful in locating video footage of the incident. The case is administratively closed.
Graphic: Maggie Claytor/ The Johnsonian
