Saturday proved to be a busy day for University Police.
In addition to working homecoming festivities, UPD responded to separate altercations at University residence halls.
A dispute between four male students early Saturday morning at Berry Hall led to an arrest of a student on aggravated assault with deadly weapon charges. According to UPD Sgt. Kyle Lowe, an argument ensued, resulting in the assault.
The victim was transported to Presbyterian Hospital of Greenville and reported to us to be in stable condition just after the incident occurred. He was then transported from P.H.G. to Parkland Hospital of Dallas. Parkland then treated and released the victim.
The suspect was booked by UPD and transported to Hunt Country Criminal Justice Center and was reportedly released from jail by a judge on $20,000 bond.
Lowe said aggravated assault with a deadly weapon does not have to be a gun, knife or bat, which are traditionally brought to mind. Any object used to cause serious bodily injury falls under the criteria, he said.
Later that night at 11:30 p.m., a fight ensued outside of Whitley Hall, leading to one arrest for disorderly conduct.
According to Lowe, the fight involved “give or take around” 15 people. One person was transported to Greenville Presbyterian Hospital with wounds to the head. University Police took a female into custody for disorderly conduct
“If you don’t have enough officers-it is impossible to get everyone,” Lowe said. “Especially if they spread out across the parking lot.”
Commerce Police Department is currently investigating the charges of Burglary of a Habitation regarding stolen items from an apartment that reportedly led to the action and confrontation behind Whitley Hall between the suspects and victims.
There was no apparent link to the homecoming after party.
Weston Miller, an undergraduate Whitley resident, witnessed the incident while going out to his car.
“I went out to my car and noticed there were a lot of people out on the front steps being loud, but there usually are, so I didn’t think anything of it,” he said. “I started to head back towards the building and I noticed that things were getting a little heated between a couple of the people, I couldn’t see who though, because of the crowd. Next thing I know, one dude is lunging at somebody and the whole group is in an uproar.”
Reluctant to get in the middle of the fray, Miller stayed in his car until the scene cleared.
“The whole ordeal went on for a good half an hour, so I just waited in my car until [the police] let people go in and out again,” he said.
Police are asking that witnesses or anyone with information about the fight to contact UPD at 903-886-5868.