An unusual crime punctuated an expectedly quiet Thanksgiving break for campus police, said University police Deputy Chief Chuck Miner.
At about 7:30 a.m. Saturday morning, Miner said, University police witnessed a man waving his arms as he walked down Huron Boulevard Southeast.
He said the man “had his arms out like a bird” and was “walking with a swagger that appeared as if he wanted all traffic to stop behind him.”
From time to time, the man would stick his thumb out like a hitchhiker, Miner said, until the Green Line light rail forced him to stop at the intersection of Washington Avenue Southeast and Huron Boulevard Southeast.
As the last train car passed the man on the tracks, he swung with his right arm and hit the train, then lifted his arms “as if he was upset that the train was blocking his walking path,” Miner said.
University officers watched as these events unfolded and approached the man. He quickly became resistant to the officers, who smelled alcohol on his breath, Miner said.
Police at the scene arrested him for obstruction of the legal process and disorderly conduct and booked the man at the Hennepin County Jail, according to a police report.
Couple’s argument leads to violence
A University student and her boyfriend — who is not affiliated with the University — were interrupted during an argument as they walked along Oak Street Southeast after the Minnesota Vikings game Sunday afternoon, Miner said.
Behind them, a pair of brothers listened to the exchange and decided to intervene, he said.
One of the men, age 35, assaulted the boyfriend, Miner said, adding that police saw the brother kick the man on the ground.
The victim lost consciousness, and he was brought to the hospital by an ambulance, Miner said.
A passerby and witness of the incident was a nurse who administered first aid to the victim until the ambulance arrived, Miner said.
According to a police report, the male suspect was arrested by UMPD officers on site and booked at the Hennepin County Jail for third-degree assault.