Police Beat
Tom Collins
Arizona Summer Wildcat
July 24, 1996
Police Beat
Tom Collins
Arizona Summer Wildcat
July 24, 1996
Monday, July 15A female Department of Residence Life employee backed her UA-registered car into another car.
The UA employee was backing out of a parking space in the lot near Corleone Apartments, 1330 N. Park Ave., at about 5:30 p.m. when she hit the car behind her. She said she did not see the other car.
The other car had a dent above the driver's side headlight, while the UA car's license plate was dented.
Thursday, July 18
An unknown student reportedly walked up to another student and assaulted him in the Science and Engineering Library, 744 N. Highland Ave.
The student said he was studying on the fourth floor of the library at 8:50 a.m. when his assailant approached him and began to "assault him with a closed fist."
During the attack, the assailant accused the student of "setting him up."
According to the victim, the assailant was in a class with the student, and the victim had loaned the assailant tests for a class he had already taken. Apparently, the material was different, and the assailant did poorly.
The student had an abrasion on the left side of his forehead, and an 8-inch abrasion on his shin.
The student told police he would find out his name from the economics professor they had shared.
Two female students in the New Start program at Manzanita-Mohave Residence Hall, 1000 N. Park Ave., were involved in an argument that led to violence.
The two students were in a discussion with several other New Start students over a 30-minute long-distance calling card when the argument began about 12:07 a.m.
Witnesses told police Tanya Y. Wyrick, 18, of Eloy, punched a 17-year-old Mesa girl three to five times.
After the incident, the 17-year-old and Wyrick ran to the hall director's apartment, and the hall director called university police.
The hall director told police Wyrick had left saying, "If I stay here, I'll only want to punch her more. I need to go outside and cool off."
Wyrick was found at a 7-Eleven convenience store, 1001 E. Speedway Blvd. She was upset and appeared to be crying. She told police she thought the altercation would be blamed on her, but she did not feel in the wrong.
Wyrick said the Mesa girl pushed her, then she pushed back, then the 17-year-old kicked her. Wyrick admitted punching the girl, according to police reports.
The Mesa girl told police she neither pushed nor kicked Wyrick, but asked her not to touch her. Wyrick responded, "What are you going to do if I do?" the 17-year-old told police.
Wyrick then pinned her and punched her, the 17-year-old said. The girl's nose was swollen, her jaw was bruised, her teeth were "pushed in," and her mouth bloodied. She was taken to University Medical Center and then released to the home of a New Start ass ociate.
Later Thursday, the Mesa girl saw an oral surgeon to straighten her teeth, and to apply wire braces and caps. Her father withdrew her from the New Start program.
Wyrick told police she had two wine coolers that night.
Wyrick was arrested for minor in possession having consumed alcohol, and aggravated assault, a felony. She was taken to Pima County Jail.
Friday, July 19
A 17-year old male New Start program participant was assaulted in the Gallagher Theatre lobby of the Student Union, 1303 E. University Drive, at 3:04 p.m.
A hall director at Manzanita-Mohave Residence Hall reported the incident to police after finding the boy at the Campus Health Center.
The boy said he felt something hit him from behind. A woman, who was not identified in police reports, said the boy had been punched by a man.
The boy received a bump on the head and was released from Campus Health.
Sunday, July 21
A Community Service Officer on bike patrol reported two people lying down in a van outside Babcock Inn, 1717 E. Speedway Blvd, at 4:58 p.m.
Police found two non-students in the van with the sliding door open. A check on the vehicle, which had California plates, indicated it was stolen.
The van's occupants, James O. Blackshire, 29, of Placerville, Calif. and Julie M. Parrish, 31, of the 4000 block of North First Avenue, said they lived two weeks in the van because they had no cash to go to California.
Parrish denied the two stole the van, but Blackshire admitted to stealing it, according to police reports.
Blackshire said the two had some credit cards which they had found and meant to return. Fourteen credit or debit cards were found, as well as 22 blank checks.
A search of the vehicle revealed the wallet and registration of the van's owner.
Police also found an aluminum can with black marks on the bottom, a wooden handled spoon, a glass pipe, nine syringes, a tweezer, a bong and a black ski mask.
Parrish and Blackshire were arrested for motor vehicle theft, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession by control of stolen credit cards.
Both were booked into Pima County Jail.
Police Beat is compiled from official University of Arizona Police Department reports.If you enjoy Police Beat, then check out "Police Have No Suspects" on sale now!
