EMS assistance at Campus Mall 

Around 3:03 p.m. on Saturday, April 18, an officer was dispatched to the UW-Eau Claire campus mall. Someone had reportedly fallen, and the officer was sent to check in and provide assistance. 

On arrival, the officer located the male subject involved. The officer identified him using his Minnesota driver’s license. The officer noted the subject was conscious and alert. 

The subject said he and his family were on campus participating in the all-states band event. He said he was throwing frisbees with his friends and while chasing a frisbee, accidentally tripped and fell, hitting the left side of his face on the cement. 

He reported experiencing tingling and numbness in his left arm and fingers. He did not report having any difficulty breathing. 

After further evaluation and noting that bleeding had stopped and it was not life-threatening, the officer took a picture of the injury. After the Eau Claire Medics arrived, they took over the assessment. 

Patrons at McIntyre Library after close 

At approximately 6:44 p.m. on Saturday, April 18, two officers were dispatched to UW-Eau Claire’s McIntyre Library as individuals were reported to not have left the library after it had closed. The library closes at 6 p.m. on Saturday. 

On arriving at the scene, an officer spoke with the complainant, who had called about people still being at the library. The complainant said she believed there were still two individuals in the library. 

She said one patron was on the third floor of the library in what appeared to be a meeting. When she asked the patron to leave, the patron declined. She said she had no idea where the second patron was. 

After this, a sergeant arrived on the scene, assisting in finding the patrons. 

The officers and sergeant met together on the third floor and proceeded to the fourth floor. While there, they observed a bathroom that was locked. Knocking on the door, a voice responded, indicating a patron was in the bathroom after the library had closed. 

The sergeant asked several times for the patron to exit the bathroom, but the patron refused. After several commands, the sergeant said that if they did not exit the bathroom, they would be unlocking the door. As they started to unlock the door, the patron opened the door. 

The officers noted there were belongings all along the floor of the bathroom. An officer observed a weapon holstered to the patron’s belt and secured the patron in handcuffs. The officers asked if the patron had any other weapons on them, and they stated they had a pocket knife in their pants.  

The patron said they were unaware they were not allowed to bring weapons into the library, and the officers advised that there were “no weapons allowed” stickers posted on every entrance to the library. 

After completing citation for the possession of a dangerous weapon, unauthorized camping and remaining in a building past closed hours, an officer reads the citations and answers any questions the patron had. The patron’s handcuffs were removed, and the patron was advised that they needed to leave campus property. 

Speeding on Water Street Bridge 

Around 11:48 p.m. on Saturday, April 18, an officer was conducting a stationary radar patrol facing West on Summit Avenue. While there, the officer observed a car travelling East along the Water Street Bridge. 

The officer visually estimated the vehicle was travelling faster than the posted speed limit of 25 miles per hour. Turning on their radio, the officer pinged the vehicle traveling around 35 miles per hour.  

A traffic stop was made on the vehicle at the corner of Garfield Avenue and State Street. The vehicle had a Minnesota plate. After running the plate on their mobile database computer, the plate came back valid. 

The officer approached the vehicle and identified him using his Minnesota driver’s license. The driver said he thought the speed limit on the Water Street Bridge was 30 miles per hour, and he said he thought he was driving 33 miles per hour. 

The officer explained that the posted speed limit on the Water Street Bridge is 25 miles per hour. 

After running the driver’s license and finding it valid, with no warrants and no probation, the officer issued the driver a traffic citation for speeding. 

Hirata can be reached at [email protected].