2008 Woodie Awards
Firearm Prompts Massive Police Reponse
12 to 15 Units Secure Gage Complex; No Charges to be Filed
by Tanner Kent
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Local and county police forces were called to Gage Complex early Wednesday morning in response to a male in the parking lot reportedly in possession of a firearm.
It is not clear whether the male -- no description has been released -- was a student or a visitor or what he was planning to do with the firearm.
According to the Mankato Department of Public Safety, no charges will be filed in connection with the incident. According to MDPS Commander Sandi Schnorenberg, the man was not taken into police custody.
Police responded to a phone call from Minnesota State campus security at 2:23 a.m. Wednesday after a firearm had been observed in a male's possession at the north end of Gage's rear parking lot.
According to President Davenport, who was briefed by law enforcement officials involved with the incident, the confusion Wednesday morning began when either a member of MSU security or a neutral passerby observed the firearm in a "strange-looking vehicle" outside of Gage. At this point, Davenport said, law enforcement officials were notified of the situation.
Davenport said that upon law enforcement's arrival -- which included 12 to 15 police units -- the male was apprehended without struggle. As of Wednesday night, Davenport said he was awaiting further information from Mankato police.
Police records affirmed that there was no struggle with or pursuit of the male.
Eyewitness accounts, however, indicated that police were searching for someone or something in Gage's rear parking lot and west side sometime between the initial response and 3:30 a.m.
Clayton Heath, an MSU freshman living on the 7th floor of Gage B, said he saw "flashlights" shining around the vehicles parked in the lot. Mark Pyka, also a resident on the 7th floor of Gage B, said he too saw officers searching the Gage grounds with flashlights.
Heath said that at approximately 2:45 a.m., he saw police officers, with weapons drawn, ordering someone to "Get down on the ground" and "Get your hands out of your pockets." Pyka said he also heard an officer yell "Get on the [expletive] ground," near the same time.
Police officials could not confirm or deny that any kind of search or seizure was made during the incident.
Schnorenberg said police were generally unable to comment on the incident beyond very basic information because of stipulations included in the Privacy Act of 1974. These stipulations state that law enforcement officials are not allowed to disclose any records relating to medical history, financial history, financial transactions, criminal history or employment history without the subject's written consent.
Campus security declined to comment as well.
Eyewitness accounts also indicated that four to six squad cars were used to blockade the entrance into the Gage parking lot from Stadium Road.
"There was a roadblock on Stadium [Road], about five cars blocking the way," said Will Hornseth, a Gage B resident.
Heath and Pyka, as well as Gage resident Will Burns, confirmed that they saw a blockade at the Stadium Road entrance.
A number of witnesses also described the use of road spikes near the entrance to the parking lot.
"I definitely saw (spike) strips," said Matt Sayre, a resident in Gage B.
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities policy does not allow employees or students to carry firearms on "system property," even if they have licenses to carry the weapons. Parking areas, however, are not governed by this legislation. Visitors are allowed to carry weapons on campus, according to Minnesota Statute section 624.714, subdivision 1a.
Minnesota State's specific weapons policy prohibits the "possession of any weapon on the university campus." Those seeking clarification of MSU's policy are instructed to contact MSU Security at (507) 389-2111.
Tanner Kent is the Reporter Editor-in-Chief