According to the criminal report affidavit of the arrest, Hitzke began an argument with two SP members over where to exit the concert grounds. After refusing to follow their directions, she yelled and cursed at them, then attempted to run past them. In the process of doing this, Hitzke struck one SP member in the mouth and then attempted to strike both members while continuing to scream and curse at them. When a TBPD officer saw this taking place, he intervened. After telling Hitzke that she was under arrest, she proceeded to run away, causing the officer to chase down and tackle her. The report affirms that she actively resisted arrest and pulled her hands away when trying to be handcuffed. She was charged with disorderly conduct and resist of arrest without violence, both misdemeanors.
The description of the video, posted by an unidentified observer with the username Brinkenstein, claimed that this was an incident of “security abuse.“
UT senior Ashely Hushka, 22, was an eyewitness to the arrest.
“I was leaving the concert and we saw a girl running towards the barricades that they had blocking everybody, because they had to go to one exit.” said Hushka.
“Her face was on the ground and he was trying to handcuff her and apparently her elbows weren’t the right way, so he was punching her on the side and her ribs, saying like, ‘Put your elbows down, put your elbows back!’ But her elbows were back, they just weren’t exactly where he wanted them so he just kept punching her in the ribs.”
One SP member requesting anonymity told The Minaret that “the arrested student was acting in an overly aggressive manner” when asked to leave through the designated exit.
Jennifer Powell, the Coordinator of Student Event Services and the advisor for Student Productions, explained the high importance of using barricades at large events.
“The reason we barricade things off is to protect the artist and the backstage area which has a lot of equipment and production staff,” said Powell. “This is why we try to push all students to exit out of the two exits where there are no barricades.”
“Please let me assure you that this was not at all the intent of Student Productions when it comes to events like this. Obviously our intent is to provide an entertaining concert that is both fun and safe for all students and their guests,” Powell affirmed.
Powell also cleared the confusion that arose regarding whether officers from TBPD or Campus Security were involved in the arrest.
“Please note that it was not UT safety officers who were involved– TBPD did the arrest [...] We communicated with UT Security for over two months regarding a very detailed security plan involving both UT safety officers and TBPD. Unfortunately, we can’t always control or prevent incidents involving students acting in an inappropriate manner.”
Despite the incident involving Hitzke’s arrest, Linda Devine, the vice president for Operations and Planning, and Kevin Howell, the director of Campus Security, addressed how the collaboration between Security and TBPD helps to secure the safety of everyone in attendance.
“The event was successful, and there were few instances of unruly behavior, and only one that rose to the level of TBPD involvement,” said Devine and Howell to The Minaret. “Maintaining a safe environment for all participants was a high priority. When that is compromised, then staff intercede.”
The incident was addressed in an email sent out to UT students on May 1, 2012, by newly elected Student Government President Matt Rutkovitz and Dean of Students Stephanie Russell Holz.
“We are investigating all sides of this situation, including the circumstances and actions that led up to the incident. We regret the incident occurred and will take steps to prevent such incidents at future events.”
After several attempts to reach her, Hitzke has yet to comment to The Minaret on the incident.
Jessica Keesee can be reached at jessica.keesee@spartans.ut.edu, Mia Glatter can be reached at mia.glatter@spartans.ut.edu.
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