Calls for “suspicious activities” have caused Oxford and University policemen to
monitor many questionable sightings in surrounding areas.
suspicious activity calls jumped exponentially from five calls to 25 calls
within that time period.
The cause of this increase came from home game day weekends, Thursday nights, and
sheer speculation.
However,
most recent calls have hovered along the lines of four to six.
“There was a total of 30 arrests this past weekend, said Jacob Threadgill, creator of
oxfordcrimereport.com. “OPD and UPD compile to us information on arrests,
misdemeanors and whatever else is legal for us to get our hands on to relay to
the public.”
To process all the arrests, tickets served, disturbance calls, calls on suspicious
activity, and any other charges, Threadgill said he uses a portable scanner to
log in all the reports.
He recalled a time when he came across a secretary who was unaware of the public records
and information that were available to the public.
Because of this, the secretary threatened to have him arrested for mistaking his
scanner for a camera.
“The secretary was trying to protect herself because she was unfamiliar with the
guidelines for admitting public documents, Threadgill said.
The Mississippi Public Record and Freedom of Information act allows Threadgill to
request any government information such sex offenders’ registry, daily arrest
or any other public records such as electricity usage.
“When I review reports on suspicious activity, most cases is just seeing someone
where they are not supposed to be,” Threadgill said.
According to the Oxford Crime Report, the spike in suspicious activity appears more off-campus than on-campus.
From Oct. 4-Oct. 12, there were a total of 34 calls on suspicious activity
off-campus. Throughout that same time frame, there were zero calls of
suspicious activity on-campus.
Although, the reoccurring theme that surrounds almost all the suspicious activity calls
have not gone unnoticed.
Thursdays.
“We have it all on those nights, public intoxication, DUI, paraphernalia and yes,
suspicious activity, said Kendall Brown, University Policeman.
Thursday night is the typical night at Ole Miss when the weekend starts and most
students go out for a night on the town. These nights normally have the highest
call rating according to the Oxford Crime Report.
October 6, there were 24 tickets served, three arrest and five calls on suspicious
activity.
Three charges of public drunk were also served.
September 28, were 32 tickets served, 10 arrests, and one call on suspicious activity.
Residing in the Investigative Unit, Brown’s main responsibility is to come in and review
points and follow-up reports from the previous day.
When he peruses through the reports, he too, took notice to the suspicious activity
calls.
“Even though we don’t get too many calls on suspicious activity, I have noticed a few
more here and there,” Brown said.
“Suspicious activity is really a broad charge, it could be somebody walking alone in a
parking lot, a car sitting at the end of a driveway, or more apparent when a
person is peeping through a car window,” Brown said.
Oxford Desk Sergeant Tony Webb also agrees with Brown’s theory of suspicious activity.
“Suspicious activity is anything we cannot categorize, Webb said.”
Even though some call-ins for suspicious activity may seem unimportant such as
barking dogs or noise complaints, more times often than none, they lead to a
burglary if the call is a serious threat.
Sept. 23-Sept. 26, there were seven calls due to burglary and 12 calls due to
suspicious activity.
activity, but also a lot of the times it’s nosey neighbors who are looking for
something to call in on, Webb said.
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