Crime Brief: Aggravated robbery at Big Free Concert left student with ‘severe concussion’

Michele Theodore
Wed, 14 May 2014 16:49:53 +0000
Campus, Crime, crime, rape, robbery

A female student reported being pushed and kicked in the head at the Big Free Concert, an incident University Police later labeled aggravated robbery.

Caked Up, The Chainsmokers, Juicy J and Childish Gambino performed on the South Oval April 10 as part of the Big Free Concert, presented by the Ohio Union Activities Board. The incident, however, was reported Friday.

A 20-year-old student who said she attended the concert described it as “out of control with lots of pushing, shoving and general mayhem by the crowd,” according to a University Police report. She said she felt a large push from behind from a college-aged man wearing a plaid shirt that caused her to fall to the ground.

After she fell, she reported that the man put his shoe on her head and the first man and another college-aged man started “violently kicking her in the head.” She told police she lost consciousness for an unknown amount of time and was unable to stand when she regained consciousness, according to the police report.

While she was crawling on the ground, she found her wallet in the mud, but reported it was missing $70 in cash and two pre-paid Visa cards totaling $50.

She told police she was diagnosed with a severe concussion at the OSU Wexner Medical Center and has had headaches, memory loss, extreme fatigue and an inability to focus or study that caused her to receive incompletes in her classes for the semester.

University Police Deputy Chief Richard Morman said Tuesday the incident was isolated and there have not been any other similar reports.

A rape was reported Monday at a residence hall, but the incident allegedly took place nearly two years ago.

Morman said both the victim and suspect were members of the Special Olympics and they knew one another.

“The Special Olympics bowling event, they come every once a year, but these folks are both in the same group in Hamilton County so they know each other,” Morman said. “It wasn’t considered a continuing threat.”

The incident was reported by a caretaker after they noticed the victim no longer wanted to attend the events, Morman said.

About two-thirds of rapes are committed by someone known to the victim, according to the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network website.

OSU provides services for victims of sexual assault that include counseling, advocacy, wellness and health services through Student Life.

A woman not affiliated with the university reported disorderly conduct Monday at about 5 p.m. at University Hospital East, located at 1492 E. Broad St.

A 38-year-old woman reported disorderly conduct at Buckeye Village Monday at about 7:45 p.m., and officers found she had an outstanding warrant. There was no physical altercation involved in the incident, and the woman agreed to get a new court date to take care of her warrant.

A 35-year-old man not affiliated with the university was arrested for operating a vehicle under the influence, trafficking in drugs and drug paraphernalia Sunday at about 3 a.m. near Woody Hayes Drive and Kenny Road.

A 28-year-old female employee reported menacing at her work May 7 at about 11 a.m. at Martha Morehouse Tower, located at 2050 Kenny Road.

She reported that she received threatening text messages that made her fear for her safety, according to a police report.

There were no direct threats toward her physical harm, but the woman intended to apply for a protection order against the suspect because the comments indicated the person knew where she parked.

There were five reports of criminal damaging between May 6 and Tuesday.

There were 11 reports of theft from May 6 to Tuesday.