University of Wisconsin students involved in Halloween mayhem will not only have city citations to pay, but they could also face a university sanctioned probation, suspension or even expulsion.
Lori Berquam, Assistant Dean of Students, said the police department will send the university all student criminal reports in a large document when they are complete. The university will then review each case individually and determine the severity of each individual’s criminal behavior.
Berquam said most of the offenses will result in either warnings or possible probation, but the infractions will depend on a case-by-case review.
It is unknown if any student may face expulsion because the majority of the information has not yet been sent from the police department, she added.
“I don’t know if something at this point would result in expulsion or suspension,” Berquam said. “But we want to stand firm to the possibility of expulsion.”
Berquam said UW students were involved in the riots but only amounted to approximately 12 percent of the total crimes. Despite the low statistic, she added that UW students should not have become involved in criminal activity.
Any student who received a violation during Halloween will be sent a letter from the university regarding their behavior.
Madison residents and a number of UW students attended the preliminary hearing last week for their criminal behavior during Halloween.
Many who underwent court hearings face charges of disorderly conduct or resisting or obstructing an officer.
Penalties for disorderly conduct include fines up to $1,000, imprisonment of up to 90 days or both. Similarly, those charged with resisting or obstructing an officer face up to $10,000 in fines, nine months in jail or both penalties.
None of the offenders have been charged with any criminal behavior yet.
Further criminal reports for UW students have not yet been released, nor have court dates been set for other UW offenders.
Justin Brooks, 23, of Monona, was arrested for resisting or obstructing an officer, disorderly conduct and two counts of habitual criminality. Brooks was verbally offensive to officers and kicked items of debris toward them, according to a police report. He was sprayed twice with pepper spray and continued to kick debris at officers.
Brooks also incited others to join in the rowdy behavior. He was later arrested.
Taylor Ayres, 24, of Madison, was arrested for resisting or obstructing an officer when he agitated officers while his brother was arrested for possessing open intoxicants. Ayres was told to leave the area three times but he continued to yell at the officers before he grabbed an officer’s elbow in a slapping motion, according to a police report.
Throughout his arrest he attempted to gather support from the crowd and yelled obscenities.
Chais Lazarescu, 21, of Madison, was arrested for resisting or obstructing an officer and disorderly conduct when he fled on foot from a fight at Brothers Tavern, 704 University Ave. According to a police report, Lazarescu ran away from officers and refused arrest. He shouted profanities and faced officers with a boxer stance before he was held down and handcuffed.
Berquam said she does not have any “magic” answers to solve the problem of unruly behavior during Halloween.
“We’re at our wits’ end … you start to wonder what causes people to hit a patrol horse or to throw glassware at police,” Berquam said. “It’s all fueled by alcohol and that’s what it boils down to.”