Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Robbery near campus results in lockdown
Sunday night three men, two with a shot gun and one with a hand gun, were suspected of a home invasion in an apartment complex on the corner of Eighth Street and Ninth Avenue. Campus Security was alerted at 8:45 p.m., and a whole campus lockdown process started at 8:52 p.m.
The lockdown took place at MSUM when security was alerted of suspects fleeing at the southeast side of the campus after the robbery.
“About five minutes after (the incident), I was told that the crime had happened. It was a fairly quick determination (to go in to lockdown),” Director of Campus Security Michael Parks said. “When you have multiple suspects on foot with weapons, specifically guns, you have to be cautious. We knew with the information we had they were headed southeast, which put them in close proximity to campus.”
MSUM campus remained in a lockdown for two hours until the area was declared clear at 10:35 p.m. A text was sent out that read, “Police have given all clear. Suspects are still at large but likely not in the MSUM area. Use extra caution in your travels.”
“Incidents like this are rare in our community but incidents like this do happen,” Parks said. “Signing up at emergency notification is a nice and safe way to stay alert.”
Moorhead Police Lt. Tory Jacobson said: “When (the armed robbers) knocked on the door it was a pizza delivery person, and the pizza delivery person was pushed into the residence by these three armed people.”
Investigation continued after the Sunday night incident.
“At this time the information we’re receiving is that the community will not be in further danger or that this will happen with the same group of suspects,” Parks said. “It appears to be an isolated incident. It was a targeted robbery as opposed to a random act of robbery.”
The text messages sent to students are a part of the emergency management plan that takes place in potentially dangerous situations, and Parks said he feels confident in the system.
“We find it’s extremely effective (sending texts),” Parks said. “The technology is instantaneous. We can deliver 4,000 text messages to the school population, including many faculty, staff and students, even those who live off campus but are close to campus.”
Parks encourages students to stay aware and alert by signing up for emergency text messages. This can be done by going onto MSUM’s homepage at http://www.mnstate.edu, the clicking on the link at the bottom right of the page that says E2Campus Emergency Notification.
“We’re always cautious and always aware of our surroundings,” Parks said. “Violence can happen anywhere. We are sure to demonstrate as a campus that we do the best job we can to protect students, faculty and staff. That was represented Sunday night.”