The Emory Wheel regularly meets with Emory Police Department (EPD) Records Manager Ed Shoemaker (87G, 90G) and Communications Director of Campus Safety Morieka Johnson (94C, 24L) and uses EPD’s public crime log to inform the Emory University community about recent crime on and around Emory’s campuses.
To report a crime, contact EPD at 404-727-6111 or police@emory.edu.
Theft by deception at Cox Hall
A student in Cox Hall Market contacted EPD at about 6:40 p.m. on Sept. 19 about a theft by deception that occurred the day prior, on Sept. 18.
On the morning of Sept. 18, a female subject posted an advertisement in a GroupMe channel for the sale of a red 2014 Honda Accord. The student victim messaged the subject and asked if the vehicle was still available for purchase, to which the subject said it was.
The subject sent the victim details, including a CARFAX report, and asked if the victim was available to see the vehicle in person. The victim said they could come see the car over the weekend, but the subject said she would not be available then. The subject said that if the student sent a deposit between $200 and $500, she would not offer the car to anyone else.
The victim sent $250 via Zelle to the number the subject provided at approximately 10:00 a.m. on Sept. 18. The subject sent a message back, stating that another potential buyer offered a $500 deposit and that the owner of the vehicle, an individual different from the subject, would prioritize the highest offer. The subject then sent the victim a screenshot of a text message that appeared to show the other buyer sending $500. Then the subject asked if the victim could send additional money, which the victim agreed to and sent another $250 via Venmo about 30 minutes later.
The subject later requested another $1,000, claiming the other potential buyer was offering a deposit of $1,500. It was at this point that the victim requested a refund, which the subject said she could issue in a day or two. The subject sent a screenshot indicating that $500 had been returned. The victim told the subject they never received the refund, and the subject told the victim to check their spam email folder.
At about 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 19, the victim attempted to contact the subject again, requesting a refund, and the subject declined. The victim then contacted EPD, who are currently investigating the case.
EPD said University community members should exercise extra caution when dealing with third-party online advertisers.
Possession and use of drug-related objects at ATO
EPD responded to a call at 12 Eagle Row, the house of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity, from its graduate housing director on Sept. 19 at about 10:00 p.m. The director was conducting her routine rounds and entered the house to inspect the building. When she entered the house, she observed three unidentified male subjects sitting in the living room, one of whom was actively smoking from a clear glass bong.
The director approached the men and asked for their student ID numbers. The men responded that they are not Emory students, and the student smoking said that they were actually a student at “Georgia Technical College.” The director then attempted to ask for the men’s names, but they refused to identify themselves and proceeded to leave the room.
The director called EPD at this point, but EPD could not locate the men. Additionally, EPD said the descriptions the director provided were generic, so it would be unlikely for EPD to be able to locate and identify the three men.
EPD retrieved and confiscated the glass bong, turning it into the department as contraband. EPD will continue to investigate the case.
Terroristic threats at EUH
A visitor at Emory University Hospital (EUH), who is the child of a patient, contacted EPD while at EUH at approximately 7:30 p.m. on September 22. The visitor stated that she received a phone call from her aunt, who resides in LaGrange, Ga. The aunt told the victim that the victim’s sister had made concerning statements about the victim, specifically telling the aunt someone was going to die that night and that the sister was going to kill somebody, according to EPD.
The aunt interpreted these statements as potential threats toward the victim. The victim’s sister was alleged to be upset with the victim for not keeping her informed about their mother’s condition. The victim also believes that her sister’s boyfriend, who was just released from prison, is negatively influencing her sister.
At the time of the report, the victim did not know whether her sister had any weapons in her possession, but she said she wanted to alert EPD of the situation in case anything were to occur at EUH. The victim also provided EPD with photographs of her sister and her sister’s boyfriend so EPD could identify them.
