The Eugene Police Department’s campus detail spent much of last weekend responding to calls that ranged from loud parties to armed robbery.
In addition to breaking up 10 parties and citing 49 University students for drinking-related offenses, the police also dealt with a possible sex crime and a “marijuana distribution business,” according to various police reports.
Lieutenant Pete Kerns said the department’s “party patrol,” which heads out on Friday and Saturday nights throughout the school year looking for loud and disorderly gatherings, wrote most of the citations. Despite all the victory celebrations stemming from the football game Saturday, Kerns said the weekend’s flurry of “minor in possession of alcohol” and “allowing the consumption of alcohol by a minor” citations was about average for this time of year.
One party, however, yielded more than just alcohol-related tickets. Kerns said that while officers were busting up a loud party at 1922 Emerald St., they noticed evidence of marijuana distribution.
“We saw marijuana-packing material that just reeked of green marijuana, and we saw cash and scales,” Kerns said.
This prompted the officers to return the next morning at 7 a.m. with a search warrant, when they discovered plastic baggies, scales, marijuana growing equipment, three shotguns and an SKS assault rifle. In a safe, officers found about three pounds of packaged marijuana, airline tickets to Amsterdam and $47,000 in cash.
David B. Soulier, a 19-year-old resident of the house and Lane Community College student, was arrested for interfering with a police officer and unlawful delivery of marijuana. The case is currently before the Lane County District Attorney’s office for review, but Kerns said if convicted, Soulier could face a maximum penalty of up to five years in prison or a $100,000 fine.
Kerns said it was not illegal for Soulier to possess any of the firearms, but the fact that he had both weapons and drugs in the same house may “enhance the potential drug charges.” Because he was not at the house when Soulier was arrested Kerns could not say what exactly prompted the charge of interfering with a police officer, but he said in his experience it usually results from a person becoming argumentative or uncooperative with police officers.
“When we go to these parties it’s not uncommon that we have a lot of drunk people around thinking they have privileges they don’t have,” he said.
Three University students where also cited for an MIP at the same house.
Police also shut down parties at 1539 Villard St., where they cited five University students for MIPs and wrote one citation for allowing minors to drink; 991 W. 11th Ave. where four University students and two from LCC received MIPs; 1390 Alder St., where a dozen University students received MIPs; 1975 Hilyard St., where six University students and one Oregon State University student received MIPs; 3415 Onyx St., where two University students received various citations; and at 2656 Alder St., where 13 University students, two LCC and three University of Washington students received MIPs.
The Phi Kappa Psi fraternity at 1708 Alder St. also received a visit from the police department, and four University students there received MIPs. A spokesman for the house would not comment on the incident.
Police spokeswoman Jan Power said that while the weekend was not as bad as others in recent years, “from the people on the party patrol, they’re saying it’s right up there.”
Powers also said police are seeking clues in a burglary and possible attempted rape case. According to a police report, at about 5:30 a.m. on Saturday a Latino man entered an 18-year-old University student’s apartment in the 1800 block of Harris Street and “attempted a sexual contact.” The woman ordered the man to leave and he did, taking some of the woman’s property. He is described as being about 30 years old and 5 feet 10 inches tall with a slender build. The case will be reviewed by the department’s violent crimes unit to see if there is enough evidence to charge attempted rape.
“The potential for one is there,” Powers said.
Police are also seeking information about the armed robbery of the Albertson’s Food & Drug, 3075 Hilyard St., at 12:13 a.m. Saturday morning. Two men wearing black nylon stockings over their heads and carrying handguns robbed the store of an undetermined amount of cash.
If anyone has information on either crime, they are asked to call the police department at 682-5121.