Spring Break
Former GCSU athlete runs from the law
Lee Sandow
Issue date: 11/9/07 Section: Campus News
Shakita Martin, a former student at GCSU and member of the Lady Bobcats basketball team, remains on the run after escaping University Public Safety and City Police last Thursday.
Martin, who was to be arrested for violation of her parole in Columbia County, escaped Police by leaving out of her window while officers allowed her to pack clothing and personal belongings from her apartment at The Village at West Campus.
“As soon as the officer (who escorted her to her room) realized she was gone we conducted a search of the area and the parking lot,” said Public Safety Detective Robert Butler. “We set up a perimeter, checked all cars going in or out, especially ones going out.”
The perimeter was kept active for several hours until it was clear Martin was no longer on the scene. The Milledgeville Police Department was also called for assistance.
Martin was first arrested after a basketball practice at The Centennial Center. She was escorted by officers to her apartment at West Campus, but, once she went into her room, she made her getaway.
Martin was ordered to turn herself in to Columbia County no later than 9 a.m. on Monday. Officer English had been in contact with her over the telephone urging her to turn herself in to authorities. Martin did not turn herself in by the deadline, and remains on the run.
Martin was arrested three years ago in Columbia County on felony charges of theft, including credit card fraud and forgery. Since her escape, she has been charged by GCSU Public Safety with misdemeanor obstruction of an officer and felony escape.
She has also had her admission at GCSU rescinded. According to Bruce Harshbarger, vice president for Student Affairs and Dean of Students, anyone falsifying their criminal background on their applications will have their admission revoked.
“(Martin) was not expelled, her admission was rescinded,” Harshbarger said. “There’s no judicial action. Her admission was based on erroneous information. It’s asked on the application whether you’ve ever been arrested, she informed us she had not. If you falsify your application, it cancels your enrollment.”
Students with felonies on their records can still apply, and are still eligible for admission to GCSU.
“There is a committee composed of myself, Mike Augustine (director of admissions), someone from Public Safety and others who decide on a case-by-case basis (whether convicted felons can enroll),” Harshbarger said. “We discuss circumstances, like severity and how long ago it occurred,”
Once the committee decides, the application may or may not be placed for consideration.
“Sometimes the decision is not to consider applications,” Harshbarger said. “Other times we decide to consider them on certain conditions. It is certainly possible for a felon to attend.”
Police are still looking for Martin, whose whereabouts are currently unknown. Anyone with information on Martin’s whereabouts should contact Public Safety at 478-445-4400.
Martin, who was to be arrested for violation of her parole in Columbia County, escaped Police by leaving out of her window while officers allowed her to pack clothing and personal belongings from her apartment at The Village at West Campus.
“As soon as the officer (who escorted her to her room) realized she was gone we conducted a search of the area and the parking lot,” said Public Safety Detective Robert Butler. “We set up a perimeter, checked all cars going in or out, especially ones going out.”
The perimeter was kept active for several hours until it was clear Martin was no longer on the scene. The Milledgeville Police Department was also called for assistance.
Martin was first arrested after a basketball practice at The Centennial Center. She was escorted by officers to her apartment at West Campus, but, once she went into her room, she made her getaway.
Martin was ordered to turn herself in to Columbia County no later than 9 a.m. on Monday. Officer English had been in contact with her over the telephone urging her to turn herself in to authorities. Martin did not turn herself in by the deadline, and remains on the run.
Martin was arrested three years ago in Columbia County on felony charges of theft, including credit card fraud and forgery. Since her escape, she has been charged by GCSU Public Safety with misdemeanor obstruction of an officer and felony escape.
She has also had her admission at GCSU rescinded. According to Bruce Harshbarger, vice president for Student Affairs and Dean of Students, anyone falsifying their criminal background on their applications will have their admission revoked.
“(Martin) was not expelled, her admission was rescinded,” Harshbarger said. “There’s no judicial action. Her admission was based on erroneous information. It’s asked on the application whether you’ve ever been arrested, she informed us she had not. If you falsify your application, it cancels your enrollment.”
Students with felonies on their records can still apply, and are still eligible for admission to GCSU.
“There is a committee composed of myself, Mike Augustine (director of admissions), someone from Public Safety and others who decide on a case-by-case basis (whether convicted felons can enroll),” Harshbarger said. “We discuss circumstances, like severity and how long ago it occurred,”
Once the committee decides, the application may or may not be placed for consideration.
“Sometimes the decision is not to consider applications,” Harshbarger said. “Other times we decide to consider them on certain conditions. It is certainly possible for a felon to attend.”
Police are still looking for Martin, whose whereabouts are currently unknown. Anyone with information on Martin’s whereabouts should contact Public Safety at 478-445-4400.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Will Thompson
posted 11/14/07 @ 11:16 AM EST
I would have thought there would have been a practice in place for verifying an applying student for (the lack of) felonies as a issue of student protection. (Continued…)
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