By LEAH WANKUM
Managing Editor
(WARRENSBURG, Mo., digitalBURG) — A person walking around the afternoon of Thursday, Feb. 18 wearing a ski mask and carrying a black bag gave cause for alarm across campus. Public Safety officials said a witness reported the suspicious activity to a friend, who later called Public Safety more than an hour after the incident.

“I would encourage people that if they see odd suspicious concerning behavior, that they call Public Safety now instead of calling their friend, calling their coworker, calling whomever,” said Scott Rhoad, director of Public Safety. “Actually call us and let us respond and evaluate the situation.”

The witness told the Muleskinner that he first saw a white male wearing black clothing and a ski mask and carrying a black bag at approximately 12:30 p.m. Thursday on the first and second floors of Wood Building. The witness reported that the white male was whistling and walking slowly through the halls. After seeing him again at approximately 1:40 p.m. in one of the stairwells between the first and second floors, he said he called a friend who was on another part of campus, who then called Public Safety.

“I’m not trying to bash on anybody, because it happens all the time, but we at Public Safety would really appreciate timely notices so that we can respond and ensure the safety as best we can for everybody,” Rhoad said. “Just because we show up doesn’t mean we’re going to arrest somebody or whatever. We’re just going to show up and figure out exactly what’s going on.”

Public Safety sent out a text alert at 2:15 p.m. that stated, “Suspicious activity observed on campus. Officers investigating. Contact us if you observe suspicious behavior.” Campus police sent out a similar email at 2:17 p.m.

Because of the delayed notice, it took nearly two hours for campus police to identify the individual, who turned out to be an unarmed student carrying his homework around campus.

Campus police identified him at approximately 3:25 p.m. in the Elliott Student Union. Rhoad said the student reported that he normally wears a ski mask when it’s cold outside. The weather Thursday was windy with an average of 59 degrees, according to Weather Underground’s website.

“Yes, he may have had it on inside, (but) he doesn’t think he was doing anything wrong,” Rhoad said. “He didn’t see anything suspicious about wearing a ski mask today.”

Rhoad said anyone, including students, faculty, staff and visitors, shouldn’t hesitate to call Public Safety at 543-4123, if they witness anything discomforting.

“If it’s something that makes you uncomfortable, it’s probably something that makes someone else uncomfortable, so let us make contact and resolve the situation,” Rhoad said. “That’s really the message. I think the story is call. Don’t wait an hour and a half.”

Editor’s note: This story has been been updated to reflect Public Safety’s report, to correctly identify the time when Public Safety made contact with the individual.