By Alena Bitonti
Arts & Entertainment Editor
The Signal and Campus Police work together on a weekly basis to inform the campus community about crime on and around campus. All records given to The Signal are public records and do not contain personal information. Some information provided may be triggering for some students.
Feb. 19: Nauseous student
At approximately 9:03 a.m., Campus Police responded to Cromwell Hall on a report of a student who felt nauseous. Upon arrival, they were met with the student who reported feeling ill starting at approximately midnight. She stated that she had vomited in the second-floor lobby and requested to be taken to the hospital. Capital Health EMS arrived and assumed care, and the patient was transported to Capital Health Hopewell for further treatment.
Feb. 20: Booted
Campus Police investigated a parking violation involving a black 2011 BMW 328i. According to NJ Department of Motor Vehicles records, the vehicle was originally registered as a red 1999 Chevrolet Prizm, but at the time of the citation, it displayed a different license plate. A VIN search confirmed the BMW’s registration, but a check through the College’s CAD system revealed no known association with the registered vehicle.
The BMW was ticketed for parking without a decal or permit and boot removal, bringing its total outstanding balance to $300. An immobilization device was placed on the front driver-side wheel, along with two orange boot notices on the windshield and driver-side window. At the time of the report, it is unknown who is the suspect in the boot report as it is unclear who was operating the vehicle.
Feb. 21: Another boot
While conducting parking enforcement in Lot 5 at approximately 11:19 a.m., Campus Police identified a blue Subaru Impreza with three unpaid citations totaling $125. The three unpaid tickets were verified, and an orange immobilization tag was placed on the driver’s side window and a yellow boot on the driver’s side wheel.
Two additional tickets were issued and placed under the wiper — one for not having a decal and another for the boot placement — bringing the total fines to $225.
Feb. 21: Medical emergency
On the report of a student experiencing a seizure during class, Campus Police were dispatched to the Social Sciences Building at 2:04 p.m. Upon arrival, the student was conscious and standing as he packed his belongings. Campus Police escorted the student outside and had him sit in an empty chair in the hallway until Lawrence EMS arrived. The student refused further medical attention.
Feb. 22: Leak triggers alarm
At 5:06 p.m., Campus Police were dispatched to Forcina Hall for an active fire alarm. Strobes and audible alarms were active upon arrival, and a check of the Honeywell fire panel in the basement indicated a red light alarm on the third floor. After notifying the College’s fire safety specialist, officers discovered that two construction workers had accidentally hit an active water pipe on the fourth floor while cutting through concrete, causing a leak that triggered the alarm.
The Ewing Fire Department arrived at 5:16 p.m. and confirmed the alarm was due to the water leak. The Honeywell system was reset, but the fire alarm reactivated approximately 25 minutes later. Campus Police successfully reset the system without calling the fire department, and a technician would be sent to resolve the recurring issue.
Feb. 23: Hit-and-run
At 1:40 a.m., a hit-and-run occurred in Lot 7 involving a white Mercedes Benz and a parked white Nissan Altima. The Nissan owner reported that she came out to her vehicle and noticed damage on the back left bumper. She had moved her vehicle prior to reporting the incident but later returned to the scene. Upon inspection, a large dent and black marks were observed on the back left bumper.
A nearby CCTV camera captured footage of the incident, showing the Mercedes attempting to park beside the Nissan. The footage showed the Nissan shifting upon impact, after which the driver of the Mercedes exited the vehicle, inspected both cars, then re-entered and parked in another location under the same camera.
At approximately 9:30 p.m., the vehicle exited Lot 7. A review of the license plate reader confirmed that the Mercedes had entered campus just before the incident. The registered owner’s address matched that of a student. On Feb. 25, campus police spoke with the driver, who admitted to striking the vehicle. An inspection of the Mercedes revealed dark-colored streaks and dents down its right side.
Feb. 23: Sick student
A male student was experiencing persistent vomiting, prompting Campus Police to respond to Hausdoerffer Hall at approximately 12:11 p.m. The student was lying on his bed upon arrival, and stated he had been throwing up since approximately 6:00 a.m. after drinking the previous night.
Ewing EMS arrived and assumed patient care at 12:19 p.m. The student was transported to Capital Health Hopewell for further medical assistance.
Feb. 23: Big Mac or heart attack?
At 7:12 p.m., a dispatch was made to the rear entrance of Travers Hall in response to a medical call. Ewing EMS arrived on the scene simultaneously with Campus Police at 7:14 p.m. The patient reported calling 911 after eating two cheeseburgers and experiencing numbness in his left arm. Upon arrival, officers observed the patient standing on the curb, alert and speaking clearly, though slightly worried about his condition.
He informed officers and EMS that he had searched his symptoms online and believed he was suffering a heart attack. The patient expressed interest in being transported for further evaluation and was taken to Capital Health Regional Medical Center for medical assessment.
Feb. 24: Not a seizure
At approximately 12:42 p.m., Campus Police arrived at The Atrium at Eickhoff for a report of a seizure. Upon arrival, the resident student was conscious and breathing, stating that he had only “spaced out” and did not experience a seizure.
The caller, a student, confirmed that the student did not lose consciousness, hit his head, or sustain any injuries during the episode. Ewing EMS responded and evaluated the student, but he refused further medical services.
Feb. 25: One last boot
Campus Police booted a gray Ford Escape parked in Lot 2. The vehicle did not display a parking decal or permit, and it was verified the vehicle was bootable due to three outstanding TCNJ parking tickets totaling $150.
An orange immobilization notice was placed on the driver’s side window, and two additional tickets were issued for lack of a decal and boot removal, bringing the total outstanding fines to $250. It was later confirmed that the outstanding tickets had been paid in full, and the boot was removed from the vehicle.
Feb. 25: Laundry day disaster
Campus Police responded to an active fire alarm at Travers Hall at approximately 3:00 p.m. Audible and strobe alarms were activated upon arrival, and a full evacuation of Wolfe and Travers Halls was underway. The fire alarm panel indicated that smoke detectors in the Travers Hall corridor near the laundry room had been triggered.
A burning odor was observed coming from the laundry room. When the Ewing Fire Department arrived on the scene, they cleared the laundry room and determined that the cause of the alarm was a washing machine that had been overloaded with laundry. The fire alarm panel was reset, and Wolfe and Travers residents reoccupied the buildings.
Feb. 27: Bad pass
A patient who hit his head in the Recreation Center requested a medical evaluation. At approximately 9:30 p.m., Campus Police arrived and found the patient sitting alone in the lobby. The patient stated that he had been playing football with friends when a pass was thrown over his head. In an attempt to catch it, his momentum carried him headfirst into the exterior wall of the Rec Center.
The patient recalled raising his hand to absorb some of the impact before hitting his head. Initially, he saw strange colors and experienced blurriness in one eye, but the symptoms had since subsided. He did not lose consciousness and only reported minor pain on one side of his head. An examination showed no swelling or visible injury, and since lights did not cause the patient discomfort, a concussion was deemed unlikely.
Lions EMS arrived at approximately 9:36 p.m. and assumed patient care. Ewing EMS arrived at 9:41 p.m. for further evaluation. The patient refused further medical assistance.
Feb. 28: Too much tequila
An intoxicated male was found lying flat on his face, conscious but disoriented on the first floor of Lot 7. Campus Police arrived at approximately 1:55 a.m. and spoke with the individual’s friend. He stated that neither of them were students at the College, and they had come to campus to visit friends and had been out drinking earlier in the night. He reported that the intoxicated male had appeared normal when picked up but began vomiting upon arrival at Lot 7. The friend stated that the individual had been drinking tequila but was unsure how much he had consumed.
Lions EMS arrived on the scene and assumed patient care. At approximately 2:15 a.m., Ewing EMS arrived and later transported the individual to Capital Health Regional Medical Center for further evaluation.
Feb. 28: False alarm
At approximately 2:40 a.m., Campus Police were dispatched to Townhouses East for a fire alarm activation — returning to the same units that had experienced an alarm earlier in the night. Upon arrival, strobes and audibles were activated, prompting a full evacuation of three units.
The Ewing Fire Department arrived on the scene at 2:42 a.m., and was escorted to the room identified as the point of origin. No signs of smoke or fire were found. It was determined that the activation was likely the result of a malfunction.
The resident was informed that the alarm may have been triggered by a fan positioned at the top of a cabinet in close proximity to the smoke alarm. They were advised to turn the fan off or lower it to prevent further issues. Both panels were reset and all units cleared the scene.
March 1: Mac and cheese mishap
In response to an activated fire alarm, Campus Police were dispatched to Allen, Brewster, and Ely Hall at 6:40 p.m. There were no strobes or audible alarms sounding, and the annunciator panel indicated the activation was in a room in Brewster.
An odor of burnt food was detected in the hallway. The Ewing Fire Department arrived and confirmed there were no signs of smoke or fire. After speaking with the Brewster resident, the Ewing Fire Department confirmed that the alarm was triggered by burnt food. The resident explained that they had been cooking macaroni and cheese in the microwave.
The alarms were reset, and all units cleared the scene.
March 1: Criminal mischief
Campus Police were dispatched to Townhouse South in response to a report of criminal mischief involving graffiti. The report was made by the residence director who was initially informed of the vandalism by the student manager of residential operations. It was determined that the graffiti occurred on the Townhouse South sign located on C Street and a banner hung at the Townhouse South gate.
Campus Police confirmed the locations and content of the graffiti. The Townhouse South sign was defaced with a depiction of male genitalia, while the banner featured the word “POOP,” with dots on the O’s, possibly suggesting female breasts. Both acts of criminal mischief were drawn in pink marker. An incident report was completed, and a work order was submitted for the removal of the graffiti.
