B
blazon3
Guest
I posted this in another forum, but didn't receive much of a response, so I thought I'd try it here. I apologize for its length; I did try to keep it as short as possible, but didn't want to leave anything out.
I am a student at a high-profile university in Boston, Mass. I recently was mugged on campus. I initially (though not purposely) reported the attack to the Boston PD. Later, the university police were called and it was decided that, because the event happened on campus, the case falls into the jurisdiction of the university police (I do not know if the Boston police even have a record of my attack).
The university police have informed me that they do not believe my story. They have threatened to prosecute me for "falsifying a police report." I was attacked with pepper spray and one of the detectives went so far as to take the coat I was wearing on the night of the attack, so that he could test it to see if there was really any spray on it (the police later returned the coat to me, claiming they never tested it because the spray would no longer be found on the coat - the police had taken my coat four days after I was sprayed).
After giving a written statement to the police, I asked that I receive a copy, and was told that I could not be given a copy because the case is still open. I also asked for a copy of the report filed of my robbery detailing what exactly I had lost. I discovered the police had never bothered to file such a report at all (this was 2-3 days after I was attacked).
At one point, while the detectives were questioning me, I stated that I did not wish to speak to them anymore and would instead get a lawyer. One of the detectives, in reply, said that I was getting defensive and that if I hadn't done anything wrong, I wouldn't be interested in getting a lawyer.
I have not heard from the police since they threatened to prosecute me (about a week after the attack). I had given them a description of one of the attackers and had worked on a computer sketch with one of the detectives, but have not seen the sketch posted around campus, and have also not heard back from the police at all. I am outraged that the police have done nothing and also with the way I have been treated.
I have considered writing to a newspaper about my situation (with the hope that, with enough bad publicity, the university might change the way it treats victims of on-campus violence). What action can I take? Could the university legally charge me with "falsifying a police report"? Can the police charge me with slander if I write to a newspaper about my experience? Can the university prevent me from graduating this May? I do not at this time, have an attorney, and likely, cannot afford one, but would like to see some sort of justice done.
I also should add that at the time of the attack, I was carrying pepper spray, which (I am told by the police) is illegal in Massachusetts.
Any advice or suggestions anyone could offer would be much appreciated. Thank you so much!
I am a student at a high-profile university in Boston, Mass. I recently was mugged on campus. I initially (though not purposely) reported the attack to the Boston PD. Later, the university police were called and it was decided that, because the event happened on campus, the case falls into the jurisdiction of the university police (I do not know if the Boston police even have a record of my attack).
The university police have informed me that they do not believe my story. They have threatened to prosecute me for "falsifying a police report." I was attacked with pepper spray and one of the detectives went so far as to take the coat I was wearing on the night of the attack, so that he could test it to see if there was really any spray on it (the police later returned the coat to me, claiming they never tested it because the spray would no longer be found on the coat - the police had taken my coat four days after I was sprayed).
After giving a written statement to the police, I asked that I receive a copy, and was told that I could not be given a copy because the case is still open. I also asked for a copy of the report filed of my robbery detailing what exactly I had lost. I discovered the police had never bothered to file such a report at all (this was 2-3 days after I was attacked).
At one point, while the detectives were questioning me, I stated that I did not wish to speak to them anymore and would instead get a lawyer. One of the detectives, in reply, said that I was getting defensive and that if I hadn't done anything wrong, I wouldn't be interested in getting a lawyer.
I have not heard from the police since they threatened to prosecute me (about a week after the attack). I had given them a description of one of the attackers and had worked on a computer sketch with one of the detectives, but have not seen the sketch posted around campus, and have also not heard back from the police at all. I am outraged that the police have done nothing and also with the way I have been treated.
I have considered writing to a newspaper about my situation (with the hope that, with enough bad publicity, the university might change the way it treats victims of on-campus violence). What action can I take? Could the university legally charge me with "falsifying a police report"? Can the police charge me with slander if I write to a newspaper about my experience? Can the university prevent me from graduating this May? I do not at this time, have an attorney, and likely, cannot afford one, but would like to see some sort of justice done.
I also should add that at the time of the attack, I was carrying pepper spray, which (I am told by the police) is illegal in Massachusetts.
Any advice or suggestions anyone could offer would be much appreciated. Thank you so much!