Sticks and stones

A non-UA-affiliated man was arrested on Feb. 27 after throwing a rock at a UAPD officer.
A UAPD officer noticed a man walking south from Hopi Lodge Residence Hall carrying a large black bag. The man placed the bag near a white station wagon, then began to walk toward the Hopi Lodge bicycle courtyard, where the officer lost sight of the man. The officer returned to his patrol car and slowly drove past the area where he had last seen the man.

The officer then checked the courtyard and noticed at least three bicycles that appeared to have been tampered with. A second officer then arrived to assist. They looked through the black bag, which looked like a guitar case, and found bolt cutters, pliers and a wrench. However, they were not able to find the man.

The officers then drove toward the UA Mall, where the second officer called out that he saw a male who matched the description of the man provided by the first officer. The first officer confirmed that he was the man he had seen earlier.

The second officer then reported over the radio that the man was running toward Second Street Parking Garage. The first officer drove his patrol vehicle to the garage and heard the second officer shouting, “Stop, police. Get on the ground.”

The first officer drove into the parking garage and witnessed the second officer TASER the man. The first officer then handcuffed the man and searched him for weapons.

When questioned about the black bag, the man denied ownership and said he had been near the Main Library enjoying the peaceful atmosphere and looking at the stars. He said he ran from the police because he thought he would be arrested for trespassing. The second officer then said the man had thrown a rock at him.

The first officer asked the man why he had thrown a rock, and he said he threw it at the officer’s feet to slow him down so he could get away.

The man was arrested and transported to Pima County Jail.