Taco Bell turmoil

At 1:23 a.m. on Sept. 23, an officer observed a vehicle turn onto University Drive at a high speed. The officer activated his radar unit and found the actual speed to be 28 mph which increased up to 31 mph.

The vehicle did not come to a complete stop at the intersection on University Drive, and the officer began to follow. He followed the vehicle into the Bridgman Hall lot and conducted a traffic stop.

The officer made contact with the driver, introduced himself and explained the reason for contact. The driver identified himself and said that he and his passenger were returning from Taco Bell.

The officer advised the driver that it is important to obey traffic signs even during the early hours of the morning because of the large amounts of pedestrian traffic on campus.

He returned to his squad car and conducted a persons inquiry on the driver who returned valid with no warrants. The officer completed a traffic citation for the driver for failure to obey a stop sign and a warning for exceeding the posted speed limit.

The officer returned to the driver and explained the citation, answered any questions and cleared the scene.

Vodka on the (Putnam) Rock

At approximately 9:30 p.m. on Sept. 20, an officer conducted foot patrol through Putnam Park. He observed a group of about 15 people sitting around a campfire on Putnam Rock. 

He made contact with the group and warned them about the campus fire safety ordinance, and the group extinguished the fire.

The officer saw that a person in the group had an open bottle of Tito’s vodka and an open can of Mike’s Hard Seltzer sitting next to her. The individual admitted to consuming intoxicating beverages.

When asked how much she had to drink, the individual said she didn’t have much. The officer escorted her to his squad car, disposed of the intoxicating beverages and conducted a records check on the individual.

She returned as a valid driver with no warrants and not on probation. She had no prior alcohol-related offenses.

The officer issued a citation for underage drinking and warned the individual about the open container of alcohol and the campfire.

She was provided with an Eau Claire County Ordinance Related Programs pamphlet. The officer explained the citation and the pamphlet, answered all of the individual’s questions and ended the contact.

Urination in the park

At approximately 10:40 p.m., an officer was conducting foot patrol through Putnam Park. He observed a large group in which one individual yelled, “Don’t come over here. I have to pee.”

The officer observed the individual urinating in the bushes next to the trail. He made contact with the individual and informed him that he could not urinate in public on campus.

The officer could smell the odor of intoxicants from the individual and asked him how much he had to drink. The individual stated, “I’ve had some,” and when the officer asked what he had been drinking, the individual responded, “Alcohol.”

The officer escorted the individual to his squad car and conducted a records check. The individual returned as a valid driver with no warrants who was not on probation and did not have any prior alcohol-related convictions.

The individual was issued a citation for underage drinking and warned about the deposit of human waste violation. The officer gave the individual an Eau Claire County Ordinance Related Programs pamphlet.

He explained the citation and the pamphlet to the individual, answered all of the individual’s questions and ended the contact.

Price be reached at [email protected].