Student found bound and gagged in Law Center, UHPD said student was in crisis
A student was found bound and gagged with tape in a bathroom at the Law Center on Monday.
It was later confirmed that the student was facing a mental health crisis and made the situation look like a kidnapping.
“A student was dealing with difficult personal issues and was in crisis,” University of Houston Police Department Lt. Bret Collier said. “(It) manifested in some unusual behaviors, including a claim of abduction that was later recanted and definitively verified by UHPD investigators not to have occurred. UHPD has taken steps to see that the student gets appropriate help.”
According to abovethelaw.com, Dean Leonard Baynes emailed everyone at the Law Center the following letter:
Dear Faculty, Staff, and Students:
There have been unsubstantiated reports of an abduction of a student at the Law Center today.
The University of Houston Police Department has now confirmed that no abduction or crime of violence took place. The student was experiencing a personal crisis. The matter has been closed.
Safety is priority of my administration, and faculty, staff, and students should remain vigilant at all times.
UH offers a security escort service for those who study or work in the evening or any time safety is of concern. You can call 3-3333 to request for a UHPD Security Officer or Police Officer to walk with you to your vehicle or to another location on campus. You can also call the same number to report any suspicious or unusual activity.
Regards,
Leonard M. Baynes
Dean and Professor of Law
The student is under the care of the University and is receiving help.
“Please recognize that this was a person having a mental health crisis,” Collier said. “While the particular way that was exhibited was dramatic, she is getting help.”
For students seeking mental health services, contact the Counseling and Psychological Services or the University of Houston Police Department of Public Safety at (713) 743-3333.
CORRECTION: The letter form Dean Baynes was not initially attributed to abovethelaw.com
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