By Brian McNeill
RICHMOND — Had the University of Virginia known about George Huguely’s arrest in 2008 in which he reportedly threatened the life of a Lexington police officer, he would have almost certainly faced consequences at the university, UVa President John T. Casteen III said Tuesday.
“Information of that kind would have lit up our system,” Casteen said. “Students who do those sorts of things would find themselves suspended immediately … In any event, I would like to know if one of my students threatened to kill a police officer.”
Casteen and Gov. Bob McDonnell spoke with reporters Tuesday afternoon after meeting at the governor’s mansion about the killing of UVa lacrosse player Yeardley Love. Huguely, also a UVa lacrosse player, is charged with first-degree murder in Love’s death.
Casteen and McDonnell discussed possible changes to Virginia law or police procedures that would aim to ensure universities are notified after students are arrested or convicted of crimes.
UVa says it was never notified after Huguely’s arrest in Lexington in fall 2008 on charges of being drunk in public and resisting arrest. The officer who arrested Huguely says he threatened to kill her and others and had to be subdued with a Taser.
McDonnell did not voice unqualified support for the idea that law enforcement agencies must notify universities about student arrests. He said, however, that he supports finding ways to improve the flow of information about worrisome incidents involving students to universities from police departments, courts, from fellow students, from guidance counselors and others.
“My commitment … is to equip the leaders of our universities with information necessary to protect the safety of their students,” McDonnell said.
Requiring law enforcement officers to notify universities about student arrests, he said, would likely have some logistical problems. For example, he said, what if a student lies about their status as a student? How do the police departments verify that information?
“There are some logistical issues,” he said.
Yet McDonnell said he is committed to the broader goal of improving the quality of information universities receive about their students’ behavior.
Casteen was asked if he still has confidence in UVa men’s lacrosse coach Dom Starsia, given reports that Starsia knew about a previous incident in which Huguely attacked another player.
“Certainly,” Casteen said, “to the extent that I have information.”
Casteen said he is standing behind Starsia, but he is also waiting on the results from an internal inquiry.
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement