University Police responded to more than 200 reported incidents in March, ranging from Ratsie’s Pizza patrons throwing chairs outside of the store to complaints of hate bias phrases written on a university classroom’s chalkboard.
HATE BIAS – On March 1, police responded to room 3207 in the Art-Sociology Building to find the words “N—– in UMD” written in chalk on the board, said University Police spokesman Capt. Marc Limansky. Above the phrase, “Theta Iota” was also written. Limansky said the department took photos, and the writing was erased from the board. Because Limansky said the incident doesn’t constitute a crime, the department is not actively seeking a suspect; however, if police found the person, he or she would be referred to the university’s Office of Student Conduct.
“Even if we know who did it, there was no crime committed,” Limansky said. “That word was offensive to someone, and that’s why it was reported. They believed it was written with racial motivation, so it’s documented as a hate bias incident.”
DISORDERLY CONDUCT – James Polivka, a 22-year-old student, was arrested March 9 at about 1:30 a.m. after yelling obscenities at a police officer, Limansky said. The officer was in the middle of making a traffic stop on the 4500 block of Knox Road, so he told Polivka to keep walking. Polivka disobeyed the officer’s requests and shouted, “You are a f—ing f—-t,” according to Limansky.
“The officer was so distracted by the scene that he had to stop what he was doing to divert the situation before he could continue his traffic stop,” he said.
Polivka had bloodshot, watery eyes, slurred speech and told police that he had been drinking earlier that day, Limansky said. He will go to court for the misdemeanor charge and could face a maximum $500 penalty and six months in jail.
In an unrelated incident that same day, officers arrested 18-year-old Brian Hashimoto of Ellicott City for disorderly conduct after an officer witnessed him yelling at vehicles outside of Ratsie’s Pizza on Route 1, Limansky said. As the officer was parking his car to talk to Hashimoto, he reportedly threw a chair from inside the pizzeria onto the sidewalk outside, tried to pull the handset from the base of a pay phone and yelled at passersby, Limansky said. Once arrested, he was found in possession of a fake ID.
“He was too intoxicated to be released on his own, so Hashimoto was released to his mother,” Limansky said, adding that he wasn’t charged for underage drinking because officers didn’t witness him in possession of alcohol.
Later that week, police responded to another incident of disorderly conduct when 23-year-old student Matthew Farrell was allegedly cursing and yelling at a staff member in Cole Field House, Limansky said.
Farrell was playing soccer on March 14 when staff members asked him to leave. Farrell refused, so the staff member called the police. While being escorted out of the building, Farrell allegedly continued to use profanity and was written a citation in lieu of arrest and denied future access to the building.
“After he was released, Farrell apologized to the staff,” Limansky said, “but when the staff members ask you to do something, it’s best to just comply with it.”
ASSAULT – On March 16, just after 2 a.m., two non-students were arrested at Ratsie’s Pizza after participating in a fight inside the restaurant. The altercation started when Kevin Flynn allegedly pulled a chair out from underneath a female patron causing her to fall to the ground, Limansky said. The people inside the restaurant escorted Flynn outside, but he came back in and punched Luis Rivera in the face, Limansky said.
Another female reportedly tried to get between Flynn and Rivera when, while trying to strike Rivera, Flynn allegedly hit the female instead, Limansky said. After police arrived, Rivera failed to comply to their orders. Police arrested Flynn and Rivera.
egan@umdbk.com
