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| Water balloon causes injury, two
arrests |
by Leslie Rasimas
Staff Writer
Two Appalachian State University students face assault and robbery
charges after an April 19 incident on campus.
Junior public relations major Arthur James Robertson and senior
theatre arts major Joriah Maurice Wade were arrested and each charged
with one count of assault inflicting serious bodily injury, and
one count of common law robbery, Capt. William Greene of the Boone
Police Department said.
Officers from the Boone Police Department responded to the assault
in the area between the First Baptist Church and the Turchin Center
for the Visual Arts on King Street.
Greene said junior criminal justice major Joshua Dewayne Mounce
was found with facial injuries, and reported his wallet was stolen.
Mounce was taken to Watauga Medical Center.
Greene said Mounce and a friend threw water balloons at a window
of White Residence Hall. They were chased from White Hall to King
Street by two males where Mounce was allegedly hit and kicked in
the face.
“We did receive a Crimestoppers tip which assisted us in determining
who committed the crime,” Greene said.
“The crime originated on campus, but culminated off campus,
so the [Boone Police Department] will handle the case,” Greene
said.
According to the Boone Police Department news release, Robertson,
of Brentwood, N.Y., and Wade, of Winston-Salem, were taken before
a Watauga County magistrate with Robertson placed on $25,000 secured
bond, and Wade placed on $20,000 secured bond.
Both are scheduled to appear in court May 11 in Watauga County District
Court, Greene said.
University Police Maj. Larry C. Foster said the Office of Judicial
Affairs will decide if Mounce would be held responsible for throwing
water balloons on campus.
University Police Chief Gunther E. Doerr said, “Water balloon
incidents tend to be an issue on campus. Some time last year we
had a student riding a bicycle who was hit with a water balloon,
wrecked and was injured.”
Doerr said throwing a water balloon on campus and hitting a person
is considered assault, and hitting a building and causing damage
is considered vandalism.
"Consequences really depend on how much damage is caused,”
Doerr said.
Mounce, Robertson and Wade were not available for comment as of
press time.
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