EMU Today

YPSILANTI – The suspect in three separate racist vandalism incidents at Eastern Michigan University in fall 2016 and spring 2017 entered guilty pleas today (April 23, 2018) in Washtenaw County Circuit Court to three counts of malicious destruction of property related to the vandalism incidents. The suspect, Eddie Curlin, entered no contest pleas to four charges of identity theft related to the investigation.

During today’s proceedings, when Judge David Swartz asked Curlin if he did the damage to the three buildings in question, Curlin’s response was, “Yes.”

Malicious destruction of property is a misdemeanor under Michigan law. Identity theft is a felony. Judge Swartz scheduled Curlin’s sentencing for May 21, 2018.

The charges stem from incidents that took place in September 2016 at King Hall, in which a hate message was found spray painted on an exterior wall; an October 2016 incident in which a racist message was discovered spray painted on an exterior wall of Ford Hall; and, a third incident that took place last spring in which a racist message was found in a men’s restroom stall in Sherzer Hall.

Curlin, 29, is currently in custody of the Michigan Department of Corrections serving a one-to-five year sentence on an unrelated charge of receiving and concealing stolen property.

The investigation into the vandalism cases showed that Curlin vandalized the buildings and then acted as an informant to police on the pretense of helping to solve the case in order to have the other previous criminal charges dropped and be allowed to return as a student to Eastern Michigan University.

In investigating the racist vandalism incidents over a 13-month period, the Eastern Michigan University Police Department committed more than 1,080 hours, equivalent to 135 full-time, eight-hour days. More than 60 people were interviewed and a reward of $10,000 was offered. More than 1,200 hours of video from more than 100 campus cameras was reviewed, as well as video from nearby businesses. In addition, nearly 20 search warrants were executed; a large number of pieces of evidence were processed and analyzed; and, data from numerous cellphones were evaluated.

“I am pleased to see the outcome of excellent police work,” said Eastern Michigan University Chief of Police Robert Heighes. “Our team, with the support of our public safety partners, worked tirelessly to solve this case and I thank everyone who helped us achieve a conviction.”

 External agencies involved in the investigation were:

       Federal Bureau of Investigation

       Michigan State Police

       Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Department Community Action Team

       University of Michigan Police Department 

       Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s Office

       Ypsilanti Police Department

About Eastern Michigan University

Founded in 1849, Eastern is the second oldest university in Michigan. It currently serves 20,000 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, specialist, doctoral and certificate degrees in the arts, sciences and professions. In all, more than 300 majors, minors and concentrations are delivered through the University's Colleges of Arts and Sciences; Business; Education; Health and Human Services; Technology, and its graduate school. EMU is regularly recognized by national publications for its excellence, diversity, and commitment to applied education. For more information about Eastern Michigan University, visit the University's website.