UPDATE:
A domestic dispute at HACC’s Harrisburg Campus earlier Wednesday evening has ended with a male in custody and a female student safe with the Harrisburg Police Department, said Todd Crawley, HACC director of public safety.
HACC said in a press release that according to information provided by police and witness accounts, the female student was in class at the Rose Lehrman Arts Center earlier this evening. A male, believed to be the student’s boyfriend, entered the classroom and asked her to leave. After she returned to class, he came back and asked her to leave again. She left with him again.
Students in the class contacted Harrisburg City Police, who responded immediately and contained the situation in the Arts Center.
As a precaution, the Harrisburg Police Department locked down the Harrisburg Campus. The College issued an emergency alert indicating that everyone on campus should remain in their classrooms or leave the campus.
City police later said the individuals involved in the domestic dispute had left the campus and declared the situation was contained and that classes could resume.
The College issued a follow-up alert updating HACC students and employees on the situation.
“We commend our students, who acted swiftly and bravely this evening. We appreciate our HACC public safety officers as well. As always, we are grateful for our partnership with the Harrisburg Police Department,” Crawley said.
“Our campuses remain safe, and our stakeholders’ security is our top priority,” he said
___________________________________________
It has been a scary night at Harrisburg Area Community College. Immediately after police reopened the campus, CBS 21 was talking to students.
After Wednesday night there is no doubt that there is going to need to be a reexamination of security at the HACC Harrisburg Campus.
While some students felt they were safe during the lockdown, for others and for some family members it was a totally different perspective.
“We got messages over our phone that said the campus is on lockdown and don't leave the room,” explained Linda Felo.
But of those we talked, to that was the minority opinion.
“No I don't feel safe,” counter ArIssa Ward, who was in math class. “I don't feel safe being down here.”
One man came to campus to make sure his wife was safe.
“Yes sir, she is walking to her car,” he told us relieved.
“I wish I could carry a gun on to the property sometimes, you never know what is going to happen,” stated David Freet.
Ironically, Ashley was in an Intro to Corrections class.
“I look outside and there was a whole bunch of sirens and lights,” stated Ashley Carretti.
A lot of people other people had different opinions on what took place.
“I was walking to the bathroom, I thought about not staying, leaving.”
“She (the professor) didn't lock the door, she didn't know what to do it was kind of chaos,” one student told us.
“My professor was like there should have been security, we had nothing she had no idea,” added another.
“We're not really prepared for anything,” one student admitted.
“Here there is no precautions no one really knows what to do,” echoed another.
“I have my pepper spray walking to my car hopefully I'm safe,” concluded another.
In addition to communication to students, perhaps there should be work on a better why to communicate emergency to community at large, I spoke to many who earlier tonight were trying to enter the campus, some students, some to attend a dance performance at the Rose Lehrman Arts Center and no one had any idea of the drama that was happening on campus.
A domestic dispute at HACC’s Harrisburg Campus earlier Wednesday evening has ended with a male in custody and a female student safe with the Harrisburg Police Department, said Todd Crawley, HACC director of public safety.
HACC said in a press release that according to information provided by police and witness accounts, the female student was in class at the Rose Lehrman Arts Center earlier this evening. A male, believed to be the student’s boyfriend, entered the classroom and asked her to leave. After she returned to class, he came back and asked her to leave again. She left with him again.
Students in the class contacted Harrisburg City Police, who responded immediately and contained the situation in the Arts Center.
As a precaution, the Harrisburg Police Department locked down the Harrisburg Campus. The College issued an emergency alert indicating that everyone on campus should remain in their classrooms or leave the campus.
City police later said the individuals involved in the domestic dispute had left the campus and declared the situation was contained and that classes could resume.
The College issued a follow-up alert updating HACC students and employees on the situation.
“We commend our students, who acted swiftly and bravely this evening. We appreciate our HACC public safety officers as well. As always, we are grateful for our partnership with the Harrisburg Police Department,” Crawley said.
“Our campuses remain safe, and our stakeholders’ security is our top priority,” he said
___________________________________________
It has been a scary night at Harrisburg Area Community College. Immediately after police reopened the campus, CBS 21 was talking to students.
After Wednesday night there is no doubt that there is going to need to be a reexamination of security at the HACC Harrisburg Campus.
While some students felt they were safe during the lockdown, for others and for some family members it was a totally different perspective.
“We got messages over our phone that said the campus is on lockdown and don't leave the room,” explained Linda Felo.
But of those we talked, to that was the minority opinion.
“No I don't feel safe,” counter ArIssa Ward, who was in math class. “I don't feel safe being down here.”
One man came to campus to make sure his wife was safe.
“Yes sir, she is walking to her car,” he told us relieved.
“I wish I could carry a gun on to the property sometimes, you never know what is going to happen,” stated David Freet.
Ironically, Ashley was in an Intro to Corrections class.
“I look outside and there was a whole bunch of sirens and lights,” stated Ashley Carretti.
A lot of people other people had different opinions on what took place.
“I was walking to the bathroom, I thought about not staying, leaving.”
“She (the professor) didn't lock the door, she didn't know what to do it was kind of chaos,” one student told us.
“My professor was like there should have been security, we had nothing she had no idea,” added another.
“We're not really prepared for anything,” one student admitted.
“Here there is no precautions no one really knows what to do,” echoed another.
“I have my pepper spray walking to my car hopefully I'm safe,” concluded another.
In addition to communication to students, perhaps there should be work on a better why to communicate emergency to community at large, I spoke to many who earlier tonight were trying to enter the campus, some students, some to attend a dance performance at the Rose Lehrman Arts Center and no one had any idea of the drama that was happening on campus.