Honking horn attracts police attention, leads to arrest

Two University students were arrested on charges of underage possession or consumption of alcohol by University Police on Saturday at 1:26 a.m.

According to the University Police report, an officer on duty observed University student Garrett Wesley Austin, 20, traveling north on East Campus Road in a black Volkswagen Passat.

The officer observed the Passat using its horn in, “at least two long blasts,” and followed because he observed no signs of immediate danger that would need the use of the horn.

After observing Austin turn at a high speed in to the River Mill Apartments complex, the officer stopped him.

Once the window was rolled down, the officer could immediately detect a strong odor from the passenger side of the vehicle and Austin reportedly stated he had consumed one beer around at 10:30 p.m.

When the officer asked about him using his horn, Austin also reportedly told the officer he had been using his horn because he believed the vehicle in front of him had not been going fast enough.

The officer checked Austin’s license and identified him as underage, then gave Austin a roadside field sobriety test.

The officer then asked Austin’s passenger and University student Reeth Dasgupta, 19, if he had consumed alcohol and Dasgupta reportedly answered he had consumed alcohol prior to the traffic stop.

After checking his identification, the officer discovered that Dasgupta was also underage.

Austin was charged with underage consumption and DUI, Dasgupta with underage consumption, the officer transported them to the Clarke County Jail.

Red & Black employee arrested for underage possession or consumption of alcohol

A University student and Red & Black employee was arrested on charges of underage possession or consumption of alcohol Saturday at 1:21 a.m.

According to the University Police report, officers were at the scene of a traffic stop when they placed two University students under arrest – John Donald Peters, 21, for DUI and Heather Christine Reese, 20, for underage possession.

Peters reportedly asked to call a friend to come take possession of his vehicle.

After arriving at the scene on foot, the friend identified himself as Jason Patrick Flynn, 20.

The officer detected the odor of alcohol on Flynn’s breath and retrieved his license, while another officer conducted a standardized field sobriety test.

Flynn was arrested by University Police and charged wish underage possession of alcohol and transported to the Clarke Country Jail.

Student asks officer to “give him a break” on underage possession charge

A University student was arrested for underage possession of alcohol by University Police on Saturday at 2:28 a.m.

According to the University Police report, Patrick Kyle Carruthers, 18, was approached by an officer after he was observed lying in the buses on the north side of Phi Kappa Hall.

The officer detected the odor of alcohol on Carruthers and observed his eyes were glassy and his speech slurred.

When the officer asked his age, Carruthers replied that he, “was going through a bad time,” and asked if the officer if he, “could give him a break tonight,” according to the document.

He gave the officer his driver’s license which confirmed he was underage.

Carruthers was placed under arrest for underage possession of alcohol and transported to the Clarke County Jail.

University student victim of fraud after losing wallet at bar

A University student was notified by the fraud department of Bank of America of suspicious activity on his account on Sunday.

According to Athens-Clarke County Police documents, a student told an officer he had lost his wallet at Barcode the previous night.

The next morning bank officials notified him of charges made at a Chevron and Shell gas stations. A third charge was attempted at a Kangaroo station on Prince Avenue, but declined.

According to the document, the student canceled his debit/credit card.

The student told the Red & Black he reported the exact times, amounts and locations of the charges to police.

University student victim of downtown beating

A University student was treated for minor injuries after University Police found him lying in the sidewalk at the corner of Jackson Street and Fulton Street Friday at 2:46 a.m.

According to police documents, an officer observed the student was bleeding from his toe and that the right side of his face was red and swollen.

The officer reported the man said he was jumped and punched repeatedly in the face by a group of males he was walking with, but did not know.

National EMS treated and released the man on the scene.

Crime reports July 18