Fire alarm at Priory Hall 

At 2:41 a.m. on March 3, an officer was dispatched to a fire alarm going off in Priory Hall. The officer was told that a smoke alarm had gone off in the first-floor kitchen. 911 was called, and the caller said they could see smoke before hanging up. 

After arriving at Priory Hall, the officer noted all the residents were standing outside. They asked around to see if anyone knew the reasoning for the alarm. A resident approached the officer and said he was cooking milk in a pan when it burned and created smoke, setting off the alarm. 

Entering the building, the officer went to look for the location where the alarm had gone off. The officer observed smoke in the kitchen area and smelled the odor of a burning liquid. Looking in the sink, the officer found a pan containing charred remnants that were no longer smoking. 

The officer noted the stove was still on and, upon shutting it off, made sure the room was clear of any smoke. After confirming the room had no smoke, the officer went to silence the fire alarm. 

After ensuring the building was safe to enter again, the officer went outside and informed the residents that they could reenter. The officer also made sure to check in with the resident who burned his milk, letting him know to watch items on the stove more carefully. 

Crying cat at Oakridge Hall

At 1:52 p.m. on March 5, an officer was dispatched to check out an animal at-large case located behind Oakridge Hall. The Communication Center advised the officer that a complainant said they could hear a cat crying behind the hall, although the exact location was unknown. 

Upon arrival, the officer walked around the outside of Oakridge Hall but noted they could not hear any cats meowing or crying. They also walked around Sutherland Hall and Chancellor’s Hall, still unable to locate or hear any crying cat. 

The officer called the complainant, asking them if they could still hear any cats meowing. They said they could not. They also said they went outside to check the surrounding area and could not locate any cat. The cat sounded like it was distressed, the complainant said. 

The officer proceeded to ask if it was possible the distressed cat’s cries could be coming from inside Oakridge Hall. They said they did not believe so. 

The officer told the complainant to call the department back if they heard any noises again. 

Citation issued on Water Street 

At approximately 3:59 p.m. on March 5, an officer was conducting a stationary patrol facing east near the 200 block of Water Street. They observed a Mercedes with Wisconsin plates displaying an expired registration tag. 

Following the vehicle, the officer conducted a record check using their Mobile Database Computer. The check indicated the registration tag expired on July 31, 2025. The officer activated their emergency lights and initiated a traffic stop. 

Contacting the driver, the officer introduced themselves and explained the reasons for the stop. The driver said they were aware of the expired tag but did not care to pay for a new one, as they thought the prices were intentionally increasing. Further, they said they had car insurance but did not have the insurance card with them.

The officer conducted a records check on the driver’s license and found it was valid and the driver had no warrants. 

Returning to the driver, the officer issued a citation for the unregistered vehicle and no proof of auto insurance. 

Hirata can be reached at [email protected].