A student has been suspended for the semester after confessing to stealing a car from an Espresso's delivery person last fall.
The driver called the Tufts University Police Department (TUPD) from an emergency phone at 1 a.m. on Oct. 12, 2000 to report that his car had been stolen from the entrance to Carmichael Hall. He had left the car running while delivering food to the Carmichael residents when a student, who was reportedly under the influence of alcohol at the time, drove off with the vehicle.
After placing the emergency call, the Espresso's driver chased after the car to the front of Olin, where the student exited the vehicle but continued running. The driver jumped in his car and pursued the student to Metcalf, at which point he abandoned the vehicle and continued the chase on foot. TUPD caught up with both the owner and the student at Powderhouse Blvd, near Haskell Hall.
According to Espresso's cook Jerry Dottin, drivers are never supposed to leave their vehicles running when they deliver an order. While witnesses say the driver initially claimed that the student had grabbed his keys, the Espresso's employee admitted in the police report that the keys had been left in the ignition.
The Espresso's driver positively identified the student in custody as the thief, but chose not to press charges. The TUPD officers did not record the offending student's Blood Alcohol Content, but did note that the underage student was under the influence of alcohol.
The incident was referred to the Dean of Students Office, which charged the student with theft of an automobile, public intoxication, underage drinking, and driving to endanger.
Because the student expressed remorse, Assistant for Judicial Affairs Veronica Carter elected to suspend the student for one semester, instead of the maximum year-long punishment. The student was also required to meet with an Alcohol and Health Educator to discuss the incident and to determine if any further counseling is necessary.
"This meeting is mandatory anytime a student is intoxicated or involved in an alcohol-related incident," Carter said.
The student appealed the decision to the Committee on Student Life (CSL) on the grounds that the consequence was too severe, but Carter's decision was upheld. The CSL, however, did say that the student could return for the summer session in order to make up classes.
Tufts officials said that the student is lucky that no one was injured and that the punishment was so lenient. According to TUPD Captain Mark Keith, if anyone had been hurt as a result of the joy ride, the student would have been held responsible for the damage or injuries. Additionally, if the Espresso's driver had pressed charges, the student would have faced the charges of motor vehicle theft and driving under the influence, both felonies.
Harassment of delivery people and theft of their vehicles are rare occurrences on campus, according to Carter. There was an almost identical vehicle theft incident a few years ago, but the TUPD did not receive a single motor vehicle report last year. In 1998, there were three reports, and there was only one in 1997.
Most area restaurants say they have had only minor problems over the past few years. But the Domino's Pizza in Medford has reportedly been the victim of many thefts of their roof-top displays in recent weeks.
"This school year alone, we've had four signs stolen, at a cost of $100 each," Assistant Manager Fabrico Aleixo said.
