Halloweekend drinking incident 

At about 9:35 p.m. on Oct. 31, an officer was conducting a standard foot patrol along Garfield Avenue. This block is a common area where individuals carry open containers of alcohol on the weekends. 

While patrolling, the officer observed an individual walking down the sidewalk with what looked to be a can of beer. Approaching the individual, the officer identified themself and asked what the person was carrying. 

The individual had a can of Twisted Tea Hard Iced Tea in his hand. The officer took possession of the open beverage and asked how much the individual had been drinking that night. They told the office they had “one sip.” The officer noted that they did not show any visible signs of intoxication. 

The officer escorted the individual back to their squad car and conducted a records check. They had no wants, were not on probation and had no prior alcohol related convictions. Another officer searched the individual’s backpack and found several more cans of Twisted Tea. 

After conducting a preliminary breath test, the individual’s blood alcohol content came back as .000. The officer issued a citation for underage drinking/possession of alcohol, first offense, and informed the student of their open container violation. 

Trapped squirrel 

At about 8:29 p.m. on Nov. 3, officers were dispatched to an animal nuisance call at Haas Fine Arts Center. The Communications Center advised that a UW-Eau Claire professor had reported a squirrel running loose in the building. 

Upon arrival, the officers contacted the professor to gather more details about the current whereabouts of the amok squirrel. The professor said that they had not seen the squirrel but that students had informed them the squirrel was last seen running around in the main lobby.

The officers entered the building and walked to the main lobby, but the squirrel did not appear to be there. A student who was sitting in the main lobby told the officers that the squirrel ran towards the arts and theater wing. 

Walking towards the arts and theater wing, the officers observed the squirrel scampering down the hallway at a high rate of speed. The officers trapped the squirrel in a closed-off halfway of the wing and called Eau Claire Animal Control. The squirrel was safely removed. 

Suites Hall fire alarm 

At approximately 7 p.m. on Nov. 4, an officer was dispatched to an active fire alarm at The Suites Hall on upper campus. Due to the nature of the call, the officer responded in emergency mode and drove as such. 

At the scene, the officer updated dispatch, informing them that they did not observe any smoke coming from the building, although the fire alarms were sounding. The officer then entered the building and made contact with the hall director. 

The hall director informed the officer that the fire panel stated the alarm was coming from the second-floor communal kitchen. The director stated that the alarm most likely resulted from students not using the fume hood while cooking.

Fire department personnel arrived at the scene, and the officer briefed them on the situation. The officer then escorted them to the second-floor kitchen. In the kitchen, there was no fire, but the room was slightly hazy. There was a pan with cooking oil and a hot burner. 

After cleaning the rest of the room, the officer and fire department personnel returned to the lobby, informing that the building was clear to be occupied. 

Hirata can be reached at [email protected].