Police: Robberies were `isolated incidents'
By JASON McFARLEY
News Editor
The robberies late last week of two off-campus student residences were "isolated incidents" and are no cause for widespread security concerns, South Bend police said Wednesday.
Police on Wednesday released information linking two armed robberies of Notre Dame students on April 12 and 13, hoping to allay doubts about off-campus safety.
"These were isolated incidents, and they were both connected," Capt. John Williams, public information officer for the South Bend Police Department, said Wednesday. "We want to get the point across that kids who live off campus should feel just as secure as any other citizen in South Bend."
Police reports indicate that five suspects were arrested Saturday in connection with break-ins at Notre Dame student homes on East Howard Street and at Turtle Creek Apartments last Thursday and Friday, respectively. Both incidents involved masked gunmen forcing their way into the residences, ordering occupants to disrobe and robbing the homes, the reports said.
Williams said an ongoing investigation into the crimes revealed several links between the cases. He said that following the Thursday night robbery, residents of the Howard Street house made arrangements to stay with friends at Turtle Creek. In the process of moving belongings Friday, the students were apparently followed to the apartment complex by the suspects.
"The students never knew they were being watched or followed," Williams said.
At least a dozen students were involved in each robbery, according to police reports.
Williams said Wednesday that police are continuing to investigate at least one more suspect connected with the invasions.
On Monday, numerous counts of armed robbery were filed in the St. Joseph Superior Court against the five suspects arrested Saturday.
Charged were five South Bend teenagers: Michael Cox and Jason Hill, 18, and Kevin Bracey, Jerome Brunson and Raphael Driver, all 16. Cox and Driver face 13 counts each; Bracey, 12 counts; and Brunson and Hill, face nine counts apiece.
Williams said he hopes students' concerns will be quelled by the fact that the each suspect has been arrested and formally charged through the St. Joseph County Prosecutor's Office.
University officials have arranged a meeting today for student victims to talk with representatives from County Prosecutor Chris Toth's office. Notre Dame officials have also offered the students on-campus housing options. As of Tuesday, at least eight had accepted invitations to move into undergraduate residence halls for the remainder of the semester.
All News Stories for Thursday, April 19, 2001
