University of Akron College of Law’s classes were moved online the week of July 28 after the building was vandalized over the weekend. Akron police cruisers and downtown plantings also were damaged.
In a prepared statement, a UA spokesperson said there was an incident July 26 involving “individual threats and physical damage” at the School of Law.
“The person involved has been taken into custody,” the spokesperson said. “Out of an abundance of caution, we made the decision to close the building to facilitate a remote work week. This will give us time to further assess all aspects of the situation.”
About 11 p.m. July 26, a caller said a male was outside the law building attempting to barricade the door with an unknown object, according to the UA spokesperson and the Akron Police Department.
The male left the scene before officers arrived, but officers found physical damage to chairs and the door blocked with a table.
An Akron police officer was driving when the male who matched the description was seen walking down the middle of University Avenue toward Broadway, according to Akron police. A bystander said the male was going down High Street kicking Akron police cars and pulling out plants by the Summit County Courthouse.
An Akron detective also witnessed the man causing damage from the sixth floor of the building.
After reviewing the camera footage at the law building, officers were able to determine it was the same person, according to Akron police.
A 35-year-old male was arrested without incident. He was transported to Summit County Jail and is being charged with multiple counts of criminal mischief, trespassing and vandalism.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: University of Akron law school moves classes online after threats, vandalism to building
Reporting by Alisson Toro-Lagos, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
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