Employee thwarts attempted robbery
A Duke University employee was confronted Jan. 6 by two men who demanded his wallet as he was walking on Research Drive. No one was injured, and the men did not display or imply they had a weapon. The incident occurred at 8:20 p.m. as the employee was leaving his job at the Surgical Oncology Research Facility. As he was walking along Research Drive, two men between the ages of 17 and 20 years old stood on each side of him and demanded his money and wallet.
The employee saw a Safe Rides Van and tried to flag it down but was unable to stop it. The men pursued the employee, but the employee saw another Safe Rides Van and flagged down the driver. The men were last seen running in the direction of Erwin Road. The driver of the Safe Rides Van drove the employee to his car. One of the men who demanded the employee's wallet is described as 6-feet tall and 200 pounds. He was wearing an orange and blue jacket and blue jeans. The other man is 5-feet-10, 160 pounds.
Duke students duke it out
Police responded to a fight between two Duke students Tuesday outside Cameron Indoor Stadium and Card Gym. The male students, who were in the tenting area of K-ville, were not injured or arrested. The incident began at 5:30 p.m. when one student, who had been drinking, performed an obscene act. Soon after, a fight broke out with the two students pushing and punching each other. Police arrived and separated the two students. The matter has been referred to the Dean's Office.
Hospital visitor poses as doctor
A woman was arrested and charged Wednesday Dec. 29 with simple assault after police said she entered a patient's room in Duke Hospital North, posed as a doctor and touched the patient's leg. The woman, Ethleen Smith, also commented aloud that the 16-year-old patient was not wearing undergarments. Smith told authorities she was a doctor, but she was not wearing physician's clothing and did not have credentials, police said. Her identification gave an age of 73 and a New York address, but police said Smith looked to be in her late 30s. Smith was taken to Durham County Jail, where she is being held in lieu of $1,000 bond. She was told not to return to Duke University for any reason. The investigation is ongoing.
Doors to dorm rooms damaged
Six wooden doors to dormitory rooms in Few Quadrangle were damaged sometime over winter break. When the damage was discovered Jan. 3, police reported that the doors are still secure but appeared to have marks that suggested someone tried to kick the doors in.
Missing car merely repossessed
A 1991 Honda that was reported stolen from Parking Garage I on Dec. 19 was located on Jan. 3. The car had been repossessed because payments for the car by the present owner had not been made.
Student reports stolen iPod
An Apple iPod was stolen from a Duke student's room in Randolph residence hall over winter break. The student left Dec. 12 and returned to campus at 9:20 a.m. Jan. 3 and found that someone had entered his room, plugged in his television and placed two chairs on top of his chest of drawers. His iPod and two music compact discs were missing. There were no signs of forced entry, and the room door was locked when the student returned. The iPod is worth $200; the discs are worth $20.
Misplaced manhole damages car
A Duke student's vehicle was damaged Tuesday Jan. 11 when the car hit a manhole cover that had been placed upside down in the roadway. The incident occurred at 3 a.m. on Campus Drive in front of University Development. The student was driving west in his white 1997 BMW and struck the manhole cover, which someone moved 12 feet from its proper location. Damage to the front bumper and wheel fender is estimated at $600. No injuries were reported.
Multiple vehicles thrashed
Three employees’ vehicles were vandalized over the weekend in level two of the Medical Center parking garage. Tires on the vehicles—a Toyota and two Hondas—were punctured with a knife, and the doors on two of the cars were scratched. The employees parked their cars on Friday and returned Saturday and Monday to discover the damage. Damage to all vehicles is estimated at $1,525.
Erratic driver still on the loose
Duke police are searching for a driver who refused to pull over his rust-colored, 1978 Chevrolet after driving recklessly on Erwin Road. The incident began at 3:20 p.m. Tuesday Dec. 28 when a Duke officer saw a group of young men at the Exxon gas station on Erwin Road, shaking hands and flashing gang signs. When the men saw police, the crowd dispersed and three of the men jumped in the Chevrolet and sped away. Police pulled behind the Chevrolet and initiated a traffic stop because it was driving recklessly and crossing the center line and ran the red light at Erwin Road and Fulton Street. The driver of the Chevrolet refused to stop. The driver proceeded on Highway 147 and crossed the median and ran several other red lights Durham Police responded at Morreene Road and Highway 15-501. The Chevrolet was last seen in the area of Morreene Road and American Drive. Police are searching for the vehicle and its occupants.
Patient’s boyfriend assaults police officer
A Duke University Police officer was punched in the face by the boyfriend of a patient in labor Tuesday Dec. 28 at Duke Hospital North, according to a police report. The patient's boyfriend, Levine Sabater, 26, was arrested and charged with assault on a government official, injury to personal property, second degree trespass and disorderly conduct by fighting. Police said the patient did not want Sabater in her room. After he was asked to leave, Sabater argued with his girlfriend and punched the officer in the face. Sabater could not be reached for comment.
Woman hits man in argument about dogs
Police are investigating a report from a Durham man who said he was struck in the face by a woman during a dispute over her dogs. The incident occurred in front of the Bivins Building at 2:34 p.m. Wednesday Dec. 22. The man and his wife were walking their dogs when they were approached by two large dogs. The man said one of the dogs jumped on him, prompting him to ask the woman to put her dogs on a leash. The woman refused and gestured with her middle finger. After the man pointed to a city ordinance sign and said it was law, the woman hit him with her fist on the right side of his face. Police are working to identify the suspect in this incident.
Television in GA stolen
A Zenith television was stolen from Gilbert-Addoms residence hall in the past several weeks. A residence hall employee last saw the 35-inch TV on Dec. 23 in the unlocked multi-purpose room in the basement. When he arrived to work on Jan. 4, he noticed it was missing. The theft was reported Jan. 14. The TV is worth $400.
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