Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Ex-lover’s woes spur frat party threats

By on April 17, 2008

University Police issued a warrant Tuesday for the arrest of a scorned lover accused of making violent threats against an on-campus fraternity party.

Jocelyn Valencia Johnson, a 19 year old from College Park, is wanted for felony false public alarm, according to University Police.

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. scheduled its 19th annual Pajama Jam for Saturday in the Ramsey Student Center Volleyball Arena. The party was intended as a fundraiser to benefit the March of Dimes.

University Police Chief Jimmy Williamson said after four separate bombing and shooting threats were called into University Police dispatchers on Saturday, administrators cancelled the party.

During a phone interview Wednesday, Williamson said the threats may have been made as a result of relationship issues, saying it was a “girlfriend/boyfriend thing.”

Patrick Adeleye, a sophomore from East Point who attended Westlake High School with Johnson and spoke to Johnson’s ex-boyfriend during the weekend, said the woman may have made the threats because of her failed relationship.

“She was really in love with him, and he had broke up with her the day before, and she knew he was attending the party,” Adeleye said. “I wasn’t really surprised, but I was shocked that she would really do something like that.”

Williamson declined to comment on the nature of the investigation and technology that led police to identify Johnson and one other caller, whose identity remains undisclosed.

“We were able to locate her through an investigation and current technology, and I appreciate the work of my men to help get this case solved,” Williamson said. As a result of the investigation, police were able to determine that Johnson’s threat had criminal intent but decided the other caller did not.

The University Police Explosive Ordinance Division K-9 detection team surveyed the Ramsey Center on Saturday and decided it was safe, the police report states. The athletic center remained open to students working out until its regular closing time.

“The threat was credible enough to check it, but not enough to shut Ramsey down,” Williamson said. There is no “exact science” as to how police handle threats. Although there are general guidelines, incidents are handled on a case-by-case basis, he said.

“Just because there was not a device in the building, it doesn’t mean that one could not be brought in,” Williamson said. “Seeing how we have never had this type of threat before, it took it to a whole another level.”

Alpha Phi Alpha has not yet decided to press charges.

“We are going to explore all of our legal options and decide what is best for us,” fraternity president Chike Akoh said. “The brothers and I greatly appreciate that the police apprehended the person responsible in a swift manner, and it’s a shame that one person ended an event to help charity.”

Students can receive Pajama Jam ticket refunds until Friday at the Greek Life Office in Memorial Hall and at the Tate Center Cashier’s Window. The money from tickets that are not returned will benefit the March of Dimes.

This year’s threat does not mark the first time there has been violence surrounding the event.

In 2001, a male visitor was arrested after leaving the party at Stegeman Colisuem after police saw a loaded shotgun in the back of his car when stopping him on Bocock Street. In 2000, the party was shut down two hours early after windows were damaged and a fight broke windows in Stegeman.

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