Guilty until proven innocent

The University of Arizona Police Department investigated a Safe Ride employee at 12:30 a.m. on Feb. 7, following a tip that the driver had been taking extended breaks and occasionally smelled of marijuana.

Police became aware of the report following a call from a Safe Ride employee, who added other employees had noticed this same behavior from the woman and after these breaks, she was often “disoriented.”

The employee then informed the officer the driver was currently in a parking lot northwest of the Student Union Memorial Center traffic circle.

UAPD then contacted the woman, a UA student, in a white Safe Ride Toyota, before identifying and asking her to participate in some sobriety field-testing.

The student obliged, passing both tests the officer administered and showing no physical appearance cues of having been under the influence of marijuana.

The student was read her Miranda Rights and told police she never smokes before or during work, but occasionally does “every couple of weeks,” on her own time. She said she does have medications for various conditions that can cause red, watery eyes and a “lethargic” demeanor, creating similar signs to marijuana use.

The woman was released and wasn’t found to have committed any criminal violations.

When in doubt

A set of golf clubs valued at $2,700 were stolen from the trunk of a man’s vehicle at Cherry Avenue Parking Garage during the men’s basketball game on Feb. 6.

The man contacted UAPD the next day by telephone at 4:22 p.m. He had last used his clubs the morning of the game and was sure they were in the trunk.

While walking to McKale Center, after exiting his car, his wife said her stomach hurt and she needed to return for some medicine.

Once she retrieved it, he pressed “lock” on a key flab, but never verified if the doors were locked before heading to the game.

Following the game, he returned to his car and didn’t notice any suspicious activity or marks to his vehicle.

The next morning he realized the missing clubs and believed they’d been taken at Cherry Garage during the game, since that was the only time his car was unattended and not at his residence. The set was held in a UA golf bag with an “A” and “Arizona” embroidery.

A victim’s rights form was completed and the man said he wanted to pursue criminal charges. There are currently no suspects or witnesses.