This February’s unseasonably warm weather brought out fest-like behavior in a number of Athens residents and Ohio University students, who kept local law enforcement busy over the past week.
On Saturday, deputies with the Athens County Sheriff’s Office were inside the department’s office on West Washington Street when they heard an “unusual noise” coming from outside the building. Deputies went to check the outside courtyard, and upon further investigation, found a man scaling the side of the Athens County Courthouse.
When asked by deputies why he was attempting to climb the courthouse, the man stated that he was “relatively new” to the area and simply “wished to explore.” Deputies noted the man smelled of alcohol, but he denied having consumed any alcoholic beverages, despite having just come from a fraternity house with a bar stamp “clearly visible on his hand.” The 18 year-old was arrested and transported to Southeastern Ohio Regional Jail.
Meanwhile, the Ohio University Police Department saw an uptick in activity, having responded to 11 drug-related reports, six reports of criminal mischief, two counts of theft, one incident of public urination and six alcohol-related reports.
EMS Escape
At approximately 7:40 p.m. Friday, an OUPD officer conducting foot patrol on East Green observed a man carrying a visibly-intoxicated woman down the Morton Hall walking path near Shively Hall. Upon making contact with the 18-year-old woman, the officer discovered that “due to her level of intoxication,” she was unable to provide identification.
Feeling that she was unable to care for herself, the officer called EMS to transport the woman to the hospital for treatment. When the ambulance arrived, however, the woman became combative with personnel and attempted to flee the scene on foot, according to the police report. She was subsequently placed under arrest for underage consumption and transported to Southeastern Ohio Regional Jail.
Rude Awakening
OUPD officers responded to five incidents over the course of three hours in East Green’s Gamertsfelder Hall early Friday morning. The saga began at approximately 1:51 a.m., when the department responded to reports of a fire alarm having been pulled somewhere in the building. The building was cleared, but less than two hours later, a second alarm was pulled on the first floor.
While patrolling the building following the second alarm, officers detected the scent of marijuana at three different locations — two on the fourth floor and one on the third. All three residents were issued citations for possession of marijuana paraphernalia, and one was served an additional citation for possession of controlled substances, according to the police report.
The Masked Axeman
On Friday, ACSO deputies responded to a residential street in Jacksonville after receiving reports of a male subject holding an axe and wearing a mask in the area. Deputies located the man committing the “suspicious activity,” who told law enforcement that he was chopping wood when he located the mask and decided to wear it.
According to the police report, “no reports of a male threatening citizens with the axe” had been made. The case is closed.
