The suspects that were the subject of the most recent Red Alert from the Department of Public Safety (DPS) have been apprehended, according to sources within DPS.
On Sunday, Nov 3, the Dickinson community received a crime alert email from DPS describing a theft that occurred earlier that evening at a student residence. The email called for any witnesses to step forward with information. The suspect was described as a “college-aged male with dark skin and short hair,” who allegedly spoke with a fabricated Jamaican accent and stole cell-phones and wallets out of jackets before leaving the event.
Within an hour, DPS obtained enough information to send out a follow-up email, and confirmed that both of the individuals involved in the theft had been apprehended. Director of Public Safety Dolores Danser attributes this quick turnaround to the help that she and the department received from students.
“A number [of students] came forward to Public Safety as witnesses and provided information and assistance which led to the identification and apprehension of the suspects,” said Danser. “Without the help of the students, this situation may not have been resolved as fast as it was.”
Many were affected by the actions of the thieves and are grateful that they were caught.
“I didn’t have anything stolen, but some of my friends did,” said a student who attended the party but wished to remain anonymous. “We were all really shocked by what happened.”
Students are usually not impacted by DPS crime alerts, so this event was no doubt a wakeup call for the community.
“I’ve never heard of anything like this happening at Dickinson before,” said the anonymous student.
At this point, not much information about the thieves can be made public as the case is currently processing through the criminal courts. Danser did reveal that the two individuals were arrested for the thievery and that neither of them were affiliated with Dickinson, but apart from that little else is known.
“They have both been charged with criminal violations, which will be handled through the county court system,” said Danser. She could not comment on whether the victims or the college are pressing charges.