For many law enforcement officers, gameday isn’t marked in yards or touchdowns, or wins or losses — it’s marked by crime. And for Columbus Division of Police, crime on this past gameday was most unusual.
Columbus Police Deputy Chief Thomas Quinlan said Saturday was unusual not because of a spike in crime, but rather, because of the types of crimes police saw.
One of those crimes was so out of the ordinary that it’s since gone viral. Lantern TV video captured at Saturday’s game against Cincinnati shows OSU student Anthony Wunder getting tackled by assistant strength and conditioning coach Anthony Schlegel after he ran onto the field in the middle of a second-quarter play. Schlegel, a former OSU linebacker, tackled Wunder on the 50-yard line. Event staff hauled Wunder off the field and he was taken to Franklin County Jail and charged with criminal trespassing.
Not all of the unusual crimes this weekend were as harmless, though.
Some of those crimes included the sexual assaults that occurred both on- and off-campus this weekend, which prompted two OSU public safety notices.
While the Buckeyes were playing under the lights at Ohio Stadium, a 59-year-old man not affiliated with the university was arrested for public indecency and criminal trespassing at Thompson Library at about 8 p.m., according to the University Police daily log. The log did not give any more details surrounding the incident.
After the game at about 12:30 a.m., former OSU student Ryan Marcia was hit by a car while he was crossing Summit Street at 18th Avenue, a Columbus Police press release stated. Marcia was taken to the OSU Wexner Medical Center in life-threatening condition, according to the release, and Columbus Police is still investigating.
The medical center had no further details on Marcia’s condition Sunday evening.
Quinlan said it’s not normal to see that type of incident on gameday weekends — the most common types of reports are fights, disturbances, disorderly conduct and alcohol-related incidents.
And campus did see some of the latter Saturday.
There were seven offenses involving underage persons reported Saturday, and at least five people were arrested for underage offenses, according to the University Police log.
“Most of the (students needing help) we saw this weekend were impaired to the point where they were not able to help themselves,” Quinlan said.
Six thefts from automobiles were also reported in the Ohio Union North Parking Garage between roughly 9:30 p.m. and 11 p.m. on Saturday. The log also lists one case of criminal damaging in that garage, which was reported shortly before 10:45 p.m.
Thefts were also reported at the South French Field House Lot and Ohio Stadium, according to the log.
Before the game, University Police assisted another law enforcement agency in arresting a woman not affiliated with the university for outstanding warrants, the log states. Officers arrested her at West 10th Avenue and Cannon Drive at about 4 p.m.
With all the crime, Quinlan had one piece of advice for students: stay alert.
“Students need to be aware of their surroundings,” Quinlan said.
Logan Hickman contributed to this story.
