By Bryon Wells
Arizona Daily Wildcat
March 10, 1998

Police Beat

University police arrested a student on assault charge early Friday after he reportedly punched another student in the face at the Kappa Sigma fraternity house, 1423 E. First St.

At 5:26 a.m., police talked to the 19-year-old victim of the assault at University Medical Center, where he was being treated for a cut and a bruised eye, police reports stated.

The student told police he and other fraternity members were hanging around outside their rooms in a second-floor hallway about 3 a.m. and noticed Matthew D. K. Hall, 19, also a resident of the Kappa Sigma house, was lying down in the courtyard below.

The student told police he began throwing paper wads at Hall, who then became angry and charged up the stairs toward him.

Hall chased his tormentor into his room and somehow obtained a key to get past the locked door, reports stated.

Other fraternity members broke up the scuffle that ensued after Hall pushed the student over a table, reports stated.

The student told police he and Hall confronted each other again about 3:30 a.m., and Hall told him he "had until he counted to three" to get back in his room. Hall then allegedly hit him in the face.

Hall told police he was provoked by the student and that he only hit him once, reports stated. He was later cited on an assault charge and released.

Police found out Hall and the other student had been drinking and decided to pass the information on to Greeks Advocating the Mature Management of Alcohol, reports stated.

A UA student was arrested on an assault charge early Sunday after allegedly brawling in a parking lot south of Frog & Firkin, 874 E. University Blvd.

A university police officer reported he was parked near East Fourth Street and North Tyndall Avenue about 1:20 a.m. watching people leaving Gentle Ben's Brewing Co., 865 E. University Blvd., when he heard the sound of breaking glass followed by people shouting.

A crowd of about 30 people dispersed when the officer drove into the parking lot south of Frog & Firkin, revealing a man, identified as a UA student, lying on his back with blood on his face, police reports stated.

As the officer approached the unconscious student, another male student who witnessed the altercation ran toward the officer, yelling, "What the fuck are you doing," reports stated.

Other university police officers then arrived.

The witness calmed down and told the officer the man on the ground was his friend, and pointed out a man who allegedly hit him, Scott D. Yarnes, 21, of the 9400 block of East Walnut Tree Circle.

Another student, also a friend of the unconscious student, told police that Yarnes threw a bottle at his car. After he got out of his vehicle and to confront Yarnes, he was punched too, reports stated.

The unconscious student later regained consciousness and was taken to University Medical Center at the request of emergency medical technicians.

Yarnes was taken to university police headquarters, cited on an assault charge and then released.

University police arrested a man on drug charges Saturday after finding him hiding in a locker room at the Bear Down Gym, 1428 E. University Blvd.

A man called police at 4:23 p.m. and said another man was trying to get into lockers in the men's locker room.

Police arrived minutes later and found Terry L. Nichols, 23, of the 1200 block of South Avenida Siro, hiding behind the door to the locker room, police reports stated.

An officer remembered warning Nichols two months ago for criminal trespassing, reports stated.

Police arrested Nichols and found 19.9 grams of suspected methamphetamine, a package of hypodermic needles, a watch and a Sony automobile compact disc player in his backpack.

One of the needles was tested and showed traces of methamphetamine, reports stated.

Nichols was booked into Pima County Jail on charges of criminal trespassing, possession of a dangerous drug and possession of drug paraphernalia, where he was being held yesterday in lieu of $7,400 bond.

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