East Tennessean

Issue date: 11/2/09 Section: News

Media Credit: Seth Johns An ETSU student was arrested and charged with making a false report after telling public safety that he was robbed on J.L. Seehorn JR Rd.

An ETSU student was arrested and charged with making a false report after telling Public Safety officers that he was robbed on campus.

Late Wednesday night, 18-yearold LaDarius Taylor of Memphis claimed he was walking back to his room in Dossett Hall, when two people approached him from behind and told him not to move. The two individuals allegedly patted him down, took his cell phone, and told him not to turn around until they were gone, according to a police report.

After the alleged robbery was reported, ETSU issued a Gold Alert message early Thursday morning and Public Safety officials began investigating the case.

In another round of questioning on Friday morning, Taylor admitted that the incident never happened, according to a press release issued by ETSU on Friday afternoon.

After reviewing tapes from surveillance cameras surrounding the area of the alleged robbery, ETSU Public Safety did not find any indication that Taylor had been a victim of robbery, said ETSU Media Relations Director Joe Smith.

Also, Taylor's cell phone had not actually been stolen. "It appears that he had lost his cell phone early in the evening, but it has since been found," Smith said.

Once Taylor admitted he made a false report, he was arrested. Although Taylor was not taken into custody, he was assigned an early December court date and will be subject to disciplinary action by ETSU, says the press release.

"Right now he is currently enrolled at ETSU," Smith said. "But as a consequence of this incident he will have to face disciplinary actions. I do not know what those will be, but they will be determined by our Division of Student Affairs."

Currently, there is no motive for Taylor reporting the fake robbery.

"I have no information as to why Mr. Taylor made the false report, nor did he provide one," Smith said.

The Gold Alert sent out after the alleged robbery was the second warning issued last week after 18-year-old Matthew Vick of Oak Ridge was knocked unconscious early Monday morning near the railroad overpass on College Heights Road. He was walking from the Presbyterian Ministries house to Governors Hall.

Continued...

Page 1 of 2 next >

Article Tools