MU police respond to domestic assault call

By Harry Plumer

Published April 15, 2008

A student was arrested on suspicion of third-degree domestic assault a little after 4 p.m. Sunday in Gillett Hall, MU Police Capt. Brian Weimer said.

Freshman Thomas H. Easton reportedly picked up a female victim and started carrying her down the hall after the victim told Easton she didn’t want to talk to him.

Easton was also arrested on suspicion of resisting arrest by flight and failure to appear in court on a marijuana charge.

Under Missouri statutes, the crime of domestic assault is defined as an assault where “the act involves a family or household member or an adult who has been in a continuing social relationship of a romantic or intimate nature.”

In addition to the criminal charges that Easton could face, Residential Life has previously placed measures to minimize contact between individuals involved in assault cases.

“In some situations individuals can be prevented from visiting each other’s floors or halls,” Residential Life Director Frankie Minor said. “Situations that deal with student safety are taken most seriously.”

In addition to limiting the places a student can visit, Residential Life will typically put students on residence hall probation or, in some cases, remove students from the residence halls.

Victims of assault in the residence halls are referred to the MU Counseling Center for optional counseling to deal with trauma associated with being assaulted.

“Our number one concern is the well-being and welfare of the people involved in these cases,” Minor said. “We want to get control of the situation immediately.”