A recent break-in into a student apartment near campus has students concerned for their safety.
For more on the story, here’s Dylan Brashier
The women who experienced an allegedly burglary and trespasser at their apartment located just off-campus were left questioning how USC prioritizes student safety. They were not satisfied by LAPD and DPS’ response to the incident on Thursday.
The apartment’s residents sat down with ARN to share their experiences. Melissa Ayala, one of the roommates, told us her initial interactions with DPS following the break-in.
AYALA: The DPS officer kind of just like tells you the same thing. Like, yeah, we’re gonna put out this report, but can’t really do much besides that, like literally just reporting and he basically just told us like, yeah, like we’re just gonna I’m just gonna patrol the area essentially. And that was pretty much it and he gave us like the report number.
For those who missed the Trojan Alert last week, the suspect allegedly invaded their apartment on West 30th Street by breaking in through a window. It was live streamed via the Citizen app and watched by many USC students.
But inside the building, the residents were undergoing a frightening experience. Ayala said they were shocked at what they saw and started recording on their phones.
AYALA: We looked up and then we all realize like, this was literally the dude that had just burglarized us. And so, you know, in general, reacting to that we kind of just like sat there and like, we’re like, what the heck do we do? Like, we didn’t say anything amongst each other. And he literally said something along the lines of like, I’m back guys are like, I’m back, blah, blah, blah. And he had a Swiffer in his hand. And we have a video of all of this.
Melina Quiles said the assailant then grabbed their taser out of a basket, but did not seem like he intended to harm or steal them.
QUILES: We were in like our kitchen. So I grabbed a knife from the thing. And I just said, like, Get the eff out. And then he was like, No, he was like, I just want some food. Like, I’m your friend. And I was like, No, like leave. And he grabbed like a couple things like it was it seemed like he wasn’t like breaking in like with the intention of stealing something. It more seemed like the whole like smashing the window thing was like a retaliation for us, like not letting him in.
Outside, 6:20 P.M. on Thursday, there were more than 10 DPS and LAPD vehicles on the premises, but LAPD did not attempt to enter the building until almost 10:00 P.M. 20 minutes later, the suspect climbed onto the roof of the building by breaking a glass window.
LAPD said they disengaged the suspect around 12:30 A.M. but the suspect remained on the property until the next morning was he was finally arrested according to video footage taken by students and residents on the scene.
DPS and LAPD issued separate statement about the incidents.
An official LAPD response released at 5:50 P.M stated: “After negotiations and the suspect’s noncompliance, the LAPD Supervisor made the decision to ”tactically disengage” and the suspect was not taken into custody.”
David Carlisle, the DPS Assistant Chief gave the following statement: “The situation you are referring to was handled by the LAPD. They made all the decisions. DPS was there in a supporting role.”
Carlisle gave a follow-up statement shortly after: “The suspect was arrested at the location the next morning by LAPD officers. DPS received the original call the day before but turned the investigation over to the LAPD. We supported LAPD by helping set up a perimeter around the building to keep people away from the scene and directing traffic. Whatever support LAPD requested.”
However, Quiles told ARN she and her roommates were left feeling helpless after speaking with law enforcement. This is what it was like, in her own words.
QUILES: Eventually, I got a hold of a sergeant, who proceeded to tell me that because like, he was in a position where he could get hurt, if they tried to get him down from the building. And he felt like it would be a liability issue. So they had, allegedly, they had no choice but to disengage. And I asked him like, Well, are you guys gonna go back and like, try to get the guy in there? Like, unless there’s another incident, we won’t go back and try to arrest him. And I was like, and I explained exactly how we were all feeling in that moment, where it was like, Okay, this guy has come back to our apartment multiple times, like, so it’s going to take him coming back to our apartment again, and potentially harming one of us. Like for them to do something. They basically were like, yeah.
The assailant has since been arrested. As for residents, they have to remain in the building under their lease ends. They are considering pursuing legal action against their landlord.
LAPD and DPS Statements were read by Vincent Demonte