Books stolen on campus
Elisha Allen
Issue date: 9/15/08 Section: News
Police arrested two suspects off campus after a book theft that occurred on Thursday in the Caddo cafeteria.
Andrew Avance, a senior biology major, placed his backpack containing all but one of his books on the shelves provided for students in the cafeteria while he went in to eat lunch. After he finished eating, Avance walked out.
When he realized he did not have his bag, he went back into the cafeteria to get it. Thinking he might have just left it in his previous class, he went to look for it.
Upon discovering it was not there, he returned to the Caddo. He asked the cashier if she had seen it. She had not.
Avance alerted both the Henderson and Reddie or Not Bookstores. He then reported the theft to the Henderson police. Officer Malissa Cleek took his statement. While Avance was filling out a witness statement, the secretary told them a worker in Womack had found Avance's backpack in the men's bathroom trashcan on the first floor. The secretary also informed them that Reddie or Not Bookstore had reported the books were sold back and the two men who sold the books were at Sonic ordering food.
"Its pretty low to steal someone's books," Avance said. "You don't even get that much back for them."
According to the police report, Cleek immediately left and arrested Charles E. Sterling III, a freshman history major, and Klyantel Summons, a freshman computer science major. Both admitted to Cleek and Director Johnny Campbell they sold the books. They told Cleek they had found the books outside the cafeteria.
Summons had $55 and Sterling had $45 from selling the books. Both were given a citation for theft of property. Their court date was set for Sept. 17. Both men were allowed to leave.
"I don't believe they should have been released," Avance said.
Cleek returned the money to the bookstore. While there, she was shown the sheet the two had signed when selling the books back. Both had used aliases, and one of the false names used was that of a student enrolled at Henderson, according to the student directory.
Friday, the two men were asked to return to the police department, where they were asked if those two people knew that their names had been used. Sterling and Summons said neither person knew them. Both were written additional citations for criminal impersonation, and both were again permitted to leave.
Avance had his books, totaling $234, returned to him. Several pens and pencils were also in the backpack, but those were not returned.
The suspects had also sold back other books belonging to an unknown victim. They had eight books in all.
"If anything does come up missing, we do what we can," said Jamie Glisson, Caddo production manager. Glisson also said the cafeteria does have cameras in the area where the shelves are located.
"They just need to get rid of the shelves entirely," Avance said. "Don't leave your stuff unattended at any time."
Andrew Avance, a senior biology major, placed his backpack containing all but one of his books on the shelves provided for students in the cafeteria while he went in to eat lunch. After he finished eating, Avance walked out.
When he realized he did not have his bag, he went back into the cafeteria to get it. Thinking he might have just left it in his previous class, he went to look for it.
Upon discovering it was not there, he returned to the Caddo. He asked the cashier if she had seen it. She had not.
Avance alerted both the Henderson and Reddie or Not Bookstores. He then reported the theft to the Henderson police. Officer Malissa Cleek took his statement. While Avance was filling out a witness statement, the secretary told them a worker in Womack had found Avance's backpack in the men's bathroom trashcan on the first floor. The secretary also informed them that Reddie or Not Bookstore had reported the books were sold back and the two men who sold the books were at Sonic ordering food.
"Its pretty low to steal someone's books," Avance said. "You don't even get that much back for them."
According to the police report, Cleek immediately left and arrested Charles E. Sterling III, a freshman history major, and Klyantel Summons, a freshman computer science major. Both admitted to Cleek and Director Johnny Campbell they sold the books. They told Cleek they had found the books outside the cafeteria.
Summons had $55 and Sterling had $45 from selling the books. Both were given a citation for theft of property. Their court date was set for Sept. 17. Both men were allowed to leave.
"I don't believe they should have been released," Avance said.
Cleek returned the money to the bookstore. While there, she was shown the sheet the two had signed when selling the books back. Both had used aliases, and one of the false names used was that of a student enrolled at Henderson, according to the student directory.
Friday, the two men were asked to return to the police department, where they were asked if those two people knew that their names had been used. Sterling and Summons said neither person knew them. Both were written additional citations for criminal impersonation, and both were again permitted to leave.
Avance had his books, totaling $234, returned to him. Several pens and pencils were also in the backpack, but those were not returned.
The suspects had also sold back other books belonging to an unknown victim. They had eight books in all.
"If anything does come up missing, we do what we can," said Jamie Glisson, Caddo production manager. Glisson also said the cafeteria does have cameras in the area where the shelves are located.
"They just need to get rid of the shelves entirely," Avance said. "Don't leave your stuff unattended at any time."
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