Mustang Daily Staff Report
news@mustangdaily.net
The San Luis Obispo Police Department (SLOPD) arrested agriculture systems management junior Matthew Martin early Saturday after police received a call about an individual breaking the windows of several vehicles near Johnson Avenue and Phillips Lane.
SLOPD sergeant Fred Mickel said Martin was arrested on felony vandalism and drunk in public.
“Because of the amount of the damages, the suspect was charged with felony vandalism,” Mickel said — Martin’s damages amounted to approximately $3,000, he said. “He was charged with drunk in public because the officer was under suspicion that he was intoxicated in public.”
The police received a phone call a little after midnight from a citizen following a suspect who was breaking vehicle windows. The suspect was originally spotted near Johnson Avenue, and the citizen followed him for several blocks until he reached Kentucky and Stafford streets, according to a SLOPD press release.
Once Martin reached Kentucky, the citizen chasing him saw Martin break three additional windows, the press release said. Martin fled from the scene, but the citizen chased him and finally caught Martin near Hathway Avenue, according to the release.
Police arrested Martin on site and booked him into the County Jail.
Sara Natividad contributed to this report.
The Mustang Daily should be ashamed at making this front-page news. This poor student made a mistake, sure, but to have to deal with being publicly shown to every student as well as his teachers is a punishment that he certainly does not deserve. I think the publication and the school owe him an apology and should no longer be trusted as caring for their students. He is in enough trouble as it is with the law and now has to be concerned that anyone and everyone on campus recognizes him.
Like no student has ever gotten a little too drunk or broke something he shouldn’t have, put yourself in his situation.
@Concerned student,
A mistake? Are you serious? This guy committed a malicious crime that will cost $3000+ to rectify. Yes, he will probably be ordered to pay restitution but only because he was caught. I’ll bet if he damaged your vehicle you’d be singing a different tune.
Get off your liberal soapbox!
I have to agree…a very bad decision on your part to put this in your paper…much less on the front page. Shame on you. I’ve been reading your rag for 30 years and never felt the need to respond in this way.
I have to agree…a very bad decision on your part to put this in your paper…much less on the front page. Shame on you. I’ve been reading your rag for 30 years and never felt the need to respond in this way.
Who the hell decided this would be a good idea to put this on the front page, and with a PICTURE OF THE DUDEE!!!
Im pretty sure ive done something like that but didnt get my face on the front of the paper. College kids get arrested all the time for petty crimes so what is the big deal. Why is this front page worthy?
I would have to agree, how is this story front-page worthy at all? Drunken vandalism and other crimes exists throughout the nation in college towns. This story is not anything special or out of the ordinary and does not deserve to be featured on the front-page or even the publication as a whole.
Obviously, we should all feel bad for the owners of the vehicle, but wouldn’t photos of the damage to the vehicles be more enlightening than a mugshot? Now, if this student ever wishes to return to the university, the whole student body would recognize him.
I remember my first beer. His name and picture should be posted on national news for “biggest idiot of the year”. You may have a different opinion towards this story being released to the public if it was your vehicle that was vandalized in the neighborhood near Hathaway…and for the reader who claims to have read Mustang Daily “rag” for 30 years, find a new hobby.
Don’t do the crime if you can’t do the time.
For all the bleeding hearts that feel sorry for this drunk, perhaps rather than making him into the victim (a classic PR move) you should think about the good citizens that had their car windows smashed.
Thanks Mustang Daily. You got this one right!
Yeah, what BS that this is a front page story. It’s one thing if you keep his information private, but a photo and his name? Come on. He’s already in enough trouble. He’s still just a student who made a stupid mistake, which he is going to have to pay for anyway.
Mustang Daily, I like your style!
Once upon a time, in a society much different from today – such a crime was accepted as worthy front page news. People use to be shocked by such an outrageous act of violence. Subtle changes over long periods of time have caused our society to adapt to a lower moral and ethical point of view. Just compare TV shows from 15 years ago to today. Once upon a time Lucy and Ricky would never lay on the same bed. Not anymore, times have changed and so have attitudes. Morals are now relative and everyone is more sympathetic towards the criminal. Just look at the replies to this article. The criminal is just a poor student who made a little mistake. The crime is deemed unworthy of front page news. Hmm, what will the next 20 years bring.