Homeless man arrested for trespassing on campus Wednesday, student leaders voice concerns
A line of Wichita State University Police Department patrol cars line department’s parking lot off Perimeter Road.
The Wichita State police department arrested a homeless man for trespassing Wednesday.
The Chief of WSU police Rodney Clark said that the man was served a no trespass order in the past but failed to comply, which was the reason he got arrested.
“Originally the person was reported up in the RSC, pulling on doors, kind of looking into rooms and things like that,” Clark said. “[He] claimed he was up there to watch TV or whatnot.”
Student Senator John Kirk said he saw the man prior to being arrested walking through the Rhatigan Student Center moments before officers questioned students in the office.
“There was a gentleman who passed us, we didn’t think much about it,” Kirk said. “I mean, I saw him, that was the end of it so I went upstairs.”
Kirk said moments after, WSU police officers came to the Student Government office to question them about the individual.
“They asked us if we saw a homeless man walking through the RSC,” Kirk said. “They described an African American man with a beard and I said, ‘Well, yeah he passed us, why?’ And then the student advocate and us just asked, ‘What else do you want?’”
SGA’s Student Advocate Caitlyn Hammack said that the officers advised the students to not approach the man.
“The officers then proceeded to tell us that if we saw this man that they were looking for we should not approach him or speak to him as he may be dangerous,” Hammack said in an email to The Sunflower. “They talked about the man negatively and said that they had arrested him and taken him into custody once before for trespassing.”
Later, Hammack asked what the course of action would be if they found the man.
“He answered that they would arrest him,” Hammack said. “He said that they had given him a warning and then arrested him once before for trespassing. I was confused as to how this was the case because I was under the impression that since Wichita State University is a public institution anyone is welcome on campus.”
Clark said that while WSU is a public university, individuals are not allowed to do certain activities that could cause disruptions to students or staff.
“It is a public university as far as most outside spaces, but not just anybody’s necessarily allowed to go into rooms in the RSC and just hang out and watch TV,” Clark said. “That can sometimes be disruptive to students and activities going on.”
Kirk said that they went on to question the officers to see if they would do anything to help him find shelter.
“We asked [the officer] if there is anything that they do to help,” Kirk said. “They kind of just danced around the question, saying ‘Well, we do everything we can to do what we can for the individual we don’t just arrest them on sight.’”
Clark said that in this specific incident, he is unaware of what the officers did to help the individual.
While there is no policy stating that officers need to direct homeless individuals to shelters, Clark said that it is not an uncommon practice.
“In general, we try to direct people to [a shelter],” Clark said. “It will not be uncommon for a police officer to say, ‘Hey, if you’re in need of a place to say there’s a shelter.’ … That would just be general advice.”
Kirk said that he believes arresting him wouldn’t make any change.
“Arresting him isn’t going to do anything,” Kirk said. “He’s just going to come back and he obviously doesn’t have food or anything and it’s starting to get cold outside.”
Kirk later witnessed the arrest.
“I was coming out of the west side of [Duerksen] and I was walking to the parking lot and I saw the police car and the individual that I saw earlier being put into the car,” Kirk said.
Hammack said the situation left her with some questions.
“This leaves me with questions about how these types of situations are dealt with on all levels and how the general society views people of lower socioeconomic status, specifically people who are without a home,” she said.
Morgan Anderson is the former Managing Editor for The Sunflower. Anderson grew up in Sterling, Kansas and is a sophomore majoring in communications with...
Lindsay Smith is the former editor-in-chief and newsletter editor for The Sunflower. Smith was a journalism major at Wichita State with a minor in creative...
Rick Chandler • Oct 12, 2020 at 2:35 pm
If the gentleman had been arrested on a prior occasion & was given a trespass notice not to be on campus, then he has broken the law by just being on campus. It’s the same trespass violation whether he has been banned at a store, restaurant, or your own private property. If someone is given a trespass warning that they can’t be there, then they are subjected to being arrested.
Gavin B Lewis • Oct 12, 2020 at 11:23 am
M. Logan, I hope the police give you “Wannabe” assistance next time you need it most. While I was attending WSU, which isn’t in the best of neighborhoods, the law enforcement did a great job of keeping the homeless away. I now live in SoCal and it is a huge problem. The homeless are camping in front of, next to, and behind houses. Along side the roads there are colonies of homeless camps. It’s a serious problem. I think Kirk should open up is house and allow the individual arrested to stay with him.
Timothy fry • Oct 12, 2020 at 1:26 am
The h.o.t line doesn’t help the homeless like it’s supposed to they make is sound good but the cops don’t care and act like they are helping but only making it to give them credit for nothing
Garett Foster • Oct 11, 2020 at 8:59 pm
The City has a HOT team which is Homeless out reach team ( https://www.wichita.gov/WPD/FieldServices/Pages/HOTTeam.aspx ) WSU could probably do GREAT things in coordination even more so with the vocational community. The H.O.T. team is responsible for responding to all 911 calls regarding homeless individuals or calls for service. H.O.T. focuses on trying to keep homeless out of jail if possible and divert them to services or shelters. If students do see Homeless people on campus they could reach out to this group (316) 854-3013. This situation would be no different then such person going into City Hall carrying same expectation. We all have places that its appropriate to be and not be. This occurred at 5:19 AM per the police daily report. RSC building has always been open early and until late evening when its appropriate to be there. if doors are locked and your pulling on them it seems as though you are already trying to be somewhere inappropriate for ones self. please look into what Students are able to do and what both sides Offer as I cannot imagine Chief of WSU police mentioning nothing further then “That would just be general advice.” please find solutions before writing pieces that only gives single individual perspectives unless its expected to be such it truly shows lack of perspective.
Kathy Frantz • Oct 11, 2020 at 1:50 pm
I currently live in western Wa. state where homelessness is out of control. If one homeless person is allowed on campus, others will certainly follow. The homeless have no business being on campus unless they are an employee or student.
Mark Logan • Oct 11, 2020 at 11:44 am
It’s a Nation Wide College Campus and VA Hospital Problem!
We have Wannabe Real Cops, with Real Police Cars, Badges, Guns, Radios, and Handcuffs…
But they have not any Real Police Work to do!
So most generally they become more of a Drama Queen Nuisance to Motorist and Locals, while generally just being recognized by Students and Hospital Staff as “Just another Over Weaponized distraction to be tolerated.
Barney has too many Real Bullets, and not enough Real Criminals!
Deborah Bartlett • Oct 11, 2020 at 9:56 am
For the safety and well being of the Students and Faculty, the officers did the right thing. I have spoken to officers in the past and they have procedures in place to try and help individuals find food, medical and shelter assistance. The Wichita community has many resources to help individuals in need.