By John Brown
Arizona Summer Wildcat
August 26, 1997

POLICE BEAT

Two female students reported Friday that nearly $5,000 worth of personal belongings were stolen from their rental truck in the parking lot at East Sixth Street and North Euclid Avenue.

The students told university police they parked the truck in lot 5068 at 5 p.m. and had checked it at 1 a.m. But when they returned at 8:30 a.m., the padlock had been cut and several items had been taken including: $2,500 worth of compact discs, a $300 camera, $350 mountain bike, $350 hiking backpack and $300 worth of clothing.

Police photographed the damage to the truck and attempted to retain fingerprints.

An unknown number of burglars took a banner Friday from the Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority, 1455 E. Second St., but left an anchor belonging to Delta Gamma Sorority, 1448 E. First St., in Kappa's driveway. Kappa's house mother told university police that the banner, which said: "Kappa Kappa Gamma, Go Greek," was taken from the front balcony sometime between 3 and 7 a.m. UA grounds employees were called in to haul the anchor back to Delta Gamma.

Kappa members suspected the incident was a fraternity prank.

The value of the banner was $50.

A 31-year-old man was arrested Friday after being identified as the person three female students had seen sitting in his car naked and masturbating near North Tyndall Avenue and University Boulevard.

The students told university police they were walking away from Baskin Robbins Ice Cream at 9:15 p.m. when two of the girls noticed a man sitting in a green 1997 Ford Mustang, reportedly naked.

According to police reports, one of the students said she "saw he had no pants on and his hand was on his penis." The 17-year-olds said the man drove off, but a few minutes later, saw the same car near the Park Student Union parking lot.

At 10:18 p.m., university police stopped a green Ford Mustang after the shirtless driver, Kevin Graham Ford, of Lakewood, Colo., ran a stop sign at North Cherry Avenue and University Boulevard.

Ford was then arrested after the students identified him as the man they had encountered an hour earlier.

Police found toilet paper tissue in the driver's door pocket, which Ford said was for his runny nose. Ford told police he was looking for a bar to have a beer and that he had his shirt off because he was hot.

Ford denied being naked in his car masturbating.

He was arrested on an indecent exposure charge and booked at Pima County Jail.

At 10:50 p.m. a discharged fire extinguisher on the ninth floor of Coronado Residence Hall, 522 E. Fifth St., set off the fire alarm and forced the evacuation of the residents.

The Tucson Fire Department allowed the residents back in when it was determined the smoke in the hallways was from the extinguisher and it had cleared.

University police responded to the Mathematics building, 617 N. Santa Rita Ave., Friday to find a 17-year-old male student passed out next to a pool of vomit.

When the student woke up, he told police he had drunk way too much beer.

Reports stated he was so intoxicated, police escorted him to his dorm because he could not remember how to get there.

He was cited on a minor consuming alcohol charge and released at the scene.

Two students at a neighborhood party Saturday night were referred to the UA diversion program after accepting a dare from a friend to fill up their beer cups in front of university police.

University police were assisting the Tucson Police Department, which was breaking up a house party in the 700 Block of East Drachman Street, about 10:30 p.m. A university police officer was standing next to the keg when the 18-year-old man and the 17-year-old girl started filling up their cups.

The officer suspected they were underage and told them to leave because the party was over.

The students continued to hang around, and when police approached them the man attempted to hide in the bushes. The officer asked for identification, and when the man went into his wallet, he noticed two California IDs.

The student admitted one was a fake and gave it to police.

The students said their friend had promised them lunch if they filled their cups in front of the officer.

Both were referred to the diversion program for minor consuming alcohol violations.

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