Recent assaults and robberies near the University of Wisconsin campus have sparked both fear and awareness in the downtown community. The offenses involved purse theft, weapon offense and robbery.
Purse theft
Two incidences of robbery occurred Saturday, Sept. 4. It is unclear at this time whether the two purse snatchings are connected.
The first offense occurred at 500 N. Pickney St. at 2:13 a.m., according to a Madison Police press release. The victim, a female UW student, was walking near the corner of East Gilman Street and North Pickney Street.
According to the release, the woman realized she was being followed and continued walking when the suspect approached her from behind. The suspect attempted to grab the victim’s purse and after a brief struggle, he pushed her to the ground and stole the purse, according to police.
The woman suffered only minor injuries and did not receive medical attention.
The suspect, a white male in his early 20s with an average build and brown hair, was last seen wearing jeans and dark T-shirt, according to the press release. He is still at large.
The second offense occurred later the same morning at 3:32 a.m. on the 600 block of North Henry Street. Another female UW student was entering her residence when she was grabbed from behind, according to police. In an attempt to break free, the suspect stole her purse and fled on foot from the victim’s residence.
The victim and the suspect received no injuries in the scuffle, but the suspect, a white male in his early 20s with dark brown hair, is still at large, according to police.
Weapon offense
Former Wisconsin Badger football player Marvin Artley was arrested Thursday, Sept. 1 for allegedly hitting a UW student with a pistol, according to the Wisconsin State Journal.
At 12:34 a.m., the 22-year-old male victim was walking down the 300 block of West Johnson Street with approximately five other friends, according to a police press release. Words were exchanged on the street when the student and his friends walked past Artley.
The victim’s friends surrounded Artley and the suspect pulled a silver and black handgun and pointed it at the group.
After striking the victim on the head with the gun, Artley fled the scene on foot. The student was taken to a local hospital and treated with eight stitches for a minor ear injury. He was later released.
Artley was charged with aggravated battery and second-degree recklessly endangering safety when a search warrant for his apartment turned up a gun and black holster, along with what is thought to be cocaine on a mirror in Artley’s short pockets, according to the Wisconsin State Journal.
Another incident occurred at 12:41 a.m. Thursday. Two male UW students were sitting on a porch on the 500 block of West Dayton Street. A black male wearing jeans and an NBA basketball jersey said his friend told him to come over to a party. According to the release, the two students had to physically restrain the suspect from coming into the house. During the struggle, one of the victims was thrown down on the porch stairs and punched by the suspect.
When the second victim attempted to help his friend, the suspect punched him and then pulled out a black, Glock-type handgun and pointed it at the ground. The suspect put the gun back into his waistband and then walked away from the residence.
Both victims received minor injuries and refused medical attention.
According to the police report, the two offenses may be connected, but this information has not yet been confirmed.
Robbery on Park Street
Palacio Musical, 1905 S. Park St., was robbed at about 11:03 a.m. Friday, Sept. 3, according to the Wisconsin State Journal.
Three men allegedly held up a female clerk and male patron in the store at gunpoint and stole necklaces, clothing, rings and bracelets. The clerk and patron were tied up with duct tape during the robbery.
The men drove away in a dark red or maroon Oldsmobile, license plate 958MIN, according to police.
Students, crime and the university
UW sophomore and SAFEwalker Kelly Egan spends two to three nights a week out on the town. Despite the recent increase in crime on campus, Egan said she feels confident and safe around the downtown area.
“I feel safe around campus because I use the walk system and I tell my friends to do the same,” Egan said. “You definitely have a real sense of protection when you use the program.”
SAFEwalk features two students who will walk other students to their residences. Egan, who has been involved with SAFE and the Associated Students of Madison for two years, has spent numerous nights walking up and down the city.
“We’ve had nights where there are as many as 17 walks,” Egan said. “Recently there have been a lot of freshmen trying out our program.”
The fall semester features a larger number of walks, according to Egan, who said the recent crimes on campus may spur a greater number of the escorts.
Students who use the walk system are grateful for the help and “go out of their way to thank us,” according to Egan.
“I got involved with SAFEwalk because it’s an awesome group of people, I make good money and I get to help out my fellow students around campus,” Egan said.
Although she couldn’t officially confirm it, Egan said she believes ASM will be looking at both crime and safety on campus in the near future.
