UTPD Finishes Investigation
Of Party Brawl

Published in The Collegian on January 25, 2001.
By Matt Griswold, Collegian Editor In Chief.

The UT police department finished up its investigation of the brawl in the Student Union Building that took place early Sunday morning, which led to the arrest of at least nine students and the hospitalization of a UT police officer.

A total of 12 people were arrested at the scene, said UT police chief John Dauer. UTPD will know sometime today whether the other three people arrested were UT students, he said.

The fight broke out in the Student Union Auditorium at an icebreaker dance sponsored by the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity. An estimated 700 to 1000 people attended the event.

UT police officer Jeff Newton, who was injured while tackling a man who fled police after allegedly throwing a chair, was released from the Medical College of Ohio Hospital.

University officials are still investigating possible disciplinary action against the students involved if it is determined that the university's code of conduct was violated.

"There has been no talk of any disciplinary action," said UT spokesman Tobin Klinger.

He added that it is still too early to determine whether any measures will be taken to increase or change the method of security at this type of event in the future.

Four off-duty City of Toledo police officers provided security for the dance, but about 55 officers from the UTPD, Toledo, and Ottawa Hills police departments responded to the fight.

Dauer said the UTPD will not be making any more arrests relating to the incident.

Some of the students at the scene said police used excessive force while trying to bring the situation under control, including the use of nightsticks. Dauer said he doesn't believe those claims are true.

"All indications are that it wsa just the mace being used," the police chief said. "They were in such tight quarters that they couldn't have pulled batons."

"I don't think there was any excessive force used. The officers showed very good restraing in using the mace to clear the crowds. From the police reports and reports from witnesses that were there, officers did their best to get everybody out safely. "I think they did a good job of it."

 Return to University of Toledo police corruption.