An ultra unfortunate underage

At approximately 9:30 p.m. on Oct. 11, an officer was conducting foot patrol along Garfield Avenue. He saw someone walking down the sidewalk with a blue and silver can that resembled a beer can.

The officer approached the individual and identified himself as a police officer several times. The individual continued to walk away from the officer and hid the can in his pocket before eventually stopping.

The officer could smell the odor of intoxicants coming from the individual’s breath. He asked the individual to take the can from his pocket, and he handed the officer a can of Michelob Ultra beer.

The individual admitted to consuming “a few” beers.

The officer conducted a records check on the individual who returned as a valid driver with no warrants and not on probation. He had no prior alcohol-related convictions.

The officer issued the individual a citation for underage drinking and verbally warned him about the open container violation.

He provided the individual with an Eau Claire Country Ordinance-Related Programs pamphlet, explained the citation and pamphlet and ended contact.

Hibbard Hall (tire) blow out

At approximately 7:17 a.m. on Oct. 12, an officer was dispatched to the Hibbard Hall Lot in regard to a vehicle assist case. The Communications Center stated that a male subject had questions in regard to his vehicle in the lot.

The Communications Center told the officer that the subject’s vehicle had two flat tires and he had questions about temporarily leaving it parked there until he could contact a towing company.

When the officer arrived, he made contact with the subject near his vehicle. The subject stated that he had been driving his vehicle in Eau Claire the night before when his front tire blew out. He said that his front, right tire already had a cracked rim which “finally gave out.” 

The subject said he was not a student at UW-Eau Claire and had questions regarding leaving his vehicle parked in the lot. The officer told him that his vehicle was parked within a posted “F” row, which was not ticketed during the weekend.

The subject said that he was going to have his vehicle moved by about 12 p.m. The officer asked the subject if he had any other questions or concerns and he said he did not. The officer cleared the scene.

Homeless encampment off Clairemont

On Oct. 8, an officer and a police trainee were dispatched to East Clairemont Avenue because of a report of a homeless encampment located in the Putnam Park woods.

They arrived on scene and walked the area, locating two separate areas of encampments. The sites appeared to be abandoned, but a tent was still set up.

They announced police presence with no response. They opened the tent and did not locate anyone inside.

The officer observed various garbage, food wrappers and clothes strewn about the area with no documentation advising who the property belonged to.

On Oct. 10, the officer returned to the area with a second officer and the police trainee. No one was in the tent, and the area appeared to have remained untouched since Oct. 8.

The officer was provided with two capped, used needles by the second officer. These needles were eventually transported to Student Health Services and disposed of at the nurses station needle box.

The second officer said he would stay with the UW-Eau Claire Grounds to remove garbage and clean up the area.

Price can be reached at [email protected].