09-26-2007, 02:26 AM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 103
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Everything Else - Possible Upcoming Campus Rampage - Police search for suicidal man near UW Hospital
Police are looking for Jesse A. Miller, a 19-year-old white male with brown hair who is 6 feet tall and 160 pounds. Police said they have had previous contact with Miller and that he may be moving in the west campus area.
UW Police said that at about 4:40 p.m., the Dane County Crisis Intervention Center called to report that Miller contacted them, saying he was on the top of the UW Hospital parking structure with a weapon and that he wanted to be killed by police. UW Police responded to the scene and set up a perimenter but could not find Miller.
About an hour later, police said they received two additional calls. One was from a man who said there were shots fired at the parking structure and that people were fleeing in all directions. The second man said he worked for a private security company and that there was a bomb at the hospital.
Police believe Miller placed all three calls, since they were at the scene when the shots were supposedly fired. In addition, a check with the private security company identified by the caller revealed the firm did not employ anyone by the name given.
As of 7 p.m., police were working to clear at the buildings and parking ramps in UW-Madison's Health Sciences complex of buildings -- essentially the west campus area. Once they clear a building, it is being closed.
In a press release, UW Police asked people to stay away from the area. UW-Madison spokeswoman Amy Toburen said Highland Avenue is closed, and most entrances to the hospital are blocked. Traffic on nearby University Avenue is backing up.
UW Hospital spokesperson Lisa Brunette said the hospital "is cooperating with local authorities in this situation and we are taking every measure to ensure the safety and security of patients."
Hospital employees and patients were allowed to enter and leave the hospital starting around 6:30 p.m., she said.
Brunette said "measures were being taken" to ensure security as people move in and out of the building but said she could not give any specifics on those measures.
A university-wide e-mail has been sent out to notify students and staff of the situation.
All UW-Madison classes held west of the Veterinary Medicine Building, 2015 Linden Drive, are canceled and the UW-Madison women's soccer game against Northern Iowa University at 7 p.m. at the McClimon Track and Soccer Complex also has been canceled.
According to an online court database, Miller, who is not a UW-Madison student, was found guilty of armed robbery with the use of force in June 2006 for a February incident in Dane County. His sentence of one year in jail was stayed on the condition that he enter a residential program for drug/alcohol and psychiatric teatment and complete anger management treatment. In April, he was ordered to report to jail due to a failure to complete the "Teen Challenge" program, but it's not clear whether he complied with that order. Police said Miller was not currently in custody and was not wanted on any warrant.
---------------------------------UPDATE FROM UW MADISON-------------------------------------------
Sept. 25, 2007
UPDATE (8:23 p.m.): UW Police and City of Madison Police are continuing to search for a suicidal man who claims to have a gun. At this time, police are asking people to avoid the campus area. If you are currently on campus studying or attending a campus activity, please stay indoors. If you must leave the campus area, do so by traveling in groups or by campus buses, which are still operating.
UPDATE (6:45 p.m.): All classes this evening that are held west of the Veterinary Medicine building are canceled. Also, the UW soccer game scheduled for tonight at the McCliman Track and Soccer Complex has also been canceled.
UW Police and City of Madison Police are currently searching for a suicidal man who claims to have a gun. The search is focused on the area of UW Hospital at 600 Highland Drive. Police are asking people to stay away from the area.
The entrances to the Hospital are blocked, but the emergency room remains open. The emergency room can be accessed from University Avenue to University Bay Drive.
Photo of Jessie A. Miller
Photo of Jessie A. Miller
Police are seeking Jesse A. Miller, a 19-year-old white male, with brown hair, 6 feet tall, 160 lbs. Miller may be moving in the west campus area and armed.
The initial emergency call came at roughly 4:40 p.m. to the Dane County Crisis Center about a person at the top of the UW Hospital parking ramp who was apparently suicidal. As officers were responding, new information was provided that the person had a firearm and intended to be killed by a police officer.
Two additional emergency calls were made within a short time later that police believe were initiated by the person of interest. A call came into the 911 center that there were shots fired at University and Highland avenues. Next, there was a call of a bomb threat called in by a person who claimed to be a security officer with a local firm.
More information will be forthcoming. Tune to local media for additional information.
If you have any information that may be helpful to UW Police, please call (608) 265-6042.
Last edited by hidusa : 09-26-2007 at 02:42 AM.
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