Water Street Bridge traffic stop 

At approximately 10:23 a.m. on Oct. 16, an officer was conducting a random vehicle patrol traveling westbound on the Water Street Bridge in a UW-Eau Claire Police squad car. While patrolling, the officer observed a Ford SUV bearing a Wisconsin plate traveling in front of them. 

Using the Mobile Database Computer in their vehicle, the officer conducted a random records check on the SUV’s registration. The officer found that the vehicle’s registration had expired on March 31. The vehicle’s registration sticker was displaying March 25 on the rear license plate. 

The officer pursued the vehicle and initiated a traffic stop near the intersection of Water Street and Second Avenue. 

Approaching the vehicle, the officer made contact with the driver, introduced themselves and explained the reason for the stop. After following the procedure of checking the driver’s license and insurance, the officer issued a Wisconsin Uniform Traffic Citation and cleared the stop. 

Faulty elevator call

On Oct. 17, an officer was dispatched in response to a call coming from Suites Residence Hall. 

Dispatch had informed the officer that the call button on elevator No. 1 had been pushed in response to a stuck elevator. Although the call button had been pushed, voices could not be heard. 

While en route to Suites, the Communication Center told the officer that additional students had gotten onto the elevator and said there was no issue and the elevator was working just fine. 

Parking lot damage 

At approximately 8:18 a.m. on Oct. 20, an officer received an email from UW-Eau Claire Parking regarding a damaged item. The officer made a call to a worker at UW-Eau Claire Parking, and they agreed to complete a repair work order and asked that they call the student employee who filed the complaint for more details. 

Calling the student employee, the officer introduced themselves and explained the reason for the call. That morning at approximately 8:05 a.m., the student was enforcing parking within the southwest corner of Towers Lot when he saw a damaged bollard with two missing “R” stall signs. 

The officer traveled to the prescribed location. Upon arrival, the officer found the damaged bollard with two missing “R” stall signs as the student described. The officer observed that the bolts anchoring the bollard to the asphalt had pulled out slightly, and the steel post was bent. 

State Street tunnel drug incident 

On Oct. 20, an officer was dispatched in response to a found needle. Dispatch informed the officer that the complainant was picking up trash along Putnam Drive when they noticed a needle on the path under State Street. 

The officer initially made contact with the complainant, verifying her contact information and the location of the needle. The officer further asked if there was any other property found around the needle. The only other objects were a large number of alcohol cans, which they disposed of. 

Arriving at the scene, the officer found the capped needle. The needle appeared dirty from being out in the elements, and upon initial observation, the needle did not appear to be used. Securing the needle, the officer brought it to the police department to process it as evidence. 

Hirata can be reached at [email protected].