By Bryon Wells
Arizona Daily Wildcat
March 2, 1998

Police Beat

Three UA students were cited on alcohol-related charges Thursday after university police saw them suspiciously passing a cup during the men's basketball game against California at McKale Center, 1721 E. Enke Drive.

At 10:05 p.m., officers spotted two fans in Section 9, behind the south basket, becoming more animated as the game progressed, one of them lifting a small bottle from under his seat and taking a swig, police reports stated.

An officer walked up to the student with the bottle and escorted him out, while his companions tried to make a quick exit, reports stated.

The 20-year-old student told the officer the plastic bottle contained alcohol.

He was referred to the Dean of Students' Diversion Program on underage drinking charges and then released, reports stated.

Police caught the two fleeing students, Jennifer N. Watkins, 18, a resident of Coronado Hall, 822 E. Fifth St., and Richard S. Clarke, 20, of the 1100 block of East Eighth Street.Police noticed that Watkins and Clarke had watery, blood-shot eyes and an odor of alcohol on their breath, reports stated.

Watkins and Clarke, who allegedly had a fake ID in his wallet, were arrested and taken to university police headquarters, reports stated.

Both were cited on charges of minor possessing and consuming alcohol, and Clarke had an additional charge of fictitious driver license possession.

The students were later released from UAPD headquarters.

South Tucson police took a man they arrested Thursday to university police headquarters to determine whether he was on drugs.

South Tucson police stopped Francisco L. Serrano, 25, after seeing him speed out of the parking lot at a Circle K store, 2604 S. Sixth Ave. Serrano screeched his tires and accelerated to about 45 mph before striking a parked car, police reports stated.

Serrano was arrested and taken to university police headquarters, where blood-alcohol tests resulted in readings of .075 percent and .071 percent, reports stated.

A University of Arizona Police Department drug recognition expert performed tests on Serrano, who had "rancid" breath, seemed depressed, and had a flushed face, reports stated. Serrano told police he had taken two small pink pills before drinking alcohol earlier that evening, reports stated.

Police found four similar pills, with "R33" printed on one side, in his car, reports stated.

The pills, suspected of being a central nervous system depressant, were sent to the state Department of Public Safety crime lab.

Serrano was arrested on charges of driving under the influence of drugs, reports stated.

An intramural sports supervisor called university police Thursday night after a spectator accused basketball officials of making racially biased calls during a game at Bear Down Gym, 1428 E. University Blvd.

"Da Bomb" was playing "McKale's JV" at 10:45 p.m. when a black spectator became upset over a white official's call and reportedly said, "Put your hood on," and "Does the Klan meet here afterwards?" police reports stated.

The man was told to leave Bear Down, but returned after the game while the two team captains were talking to the official, reports stated.

The intramural supervisor told police that 10 students of each team began arguing with each other, and the spectator again made comments regarding the Ku Klux Klan, reports stated.

When police arrived about 10 minutes later, the supervisor had already gotten both teams out of the building. Police told the supervisor to call police if the man returns and again becomes unruly.

Police Beat is compiled from official University of Arizona Police Department reports.