Star-Journbal Editor
An altercation between two Tabor College students over a stolen pair of men's earrings escalated Monday night into a barricade standoff between the frightened students, holed-up in a dorm room, and a brigade of equally anxious law enforcement officials, waiting outside.
Nine police and sheriff's deputies responded en masse to the Hillsboro campus after the emergency dispatcher reported that one of the young men involved in the altercation was armed with a handgun.
According to Hillsboro police chief Dan Kinning, the four men involved in the fight locked themselves in a dorm room on the second floor of the Oklahoma Hall building and refused to surrender to police.
The men's housing complex of about 150 students was evacuated at 10:45 p.m.
The standoff ended about 11:15 p.m. after police borrowed a cell phone from another student to call one of the barricaded suspects — a friend who's number was on speed dial.
"It took a little while to get them out," Kinning said. "They told us they were afraid."
Because police could not confirm if one of the students did, in fact, have a gun, Kinning took no chances.
"We were told that someone had a handgun on them, which proved not to be the case," Kinning said.
"Apparently, someone saw a person reaching down in his pants for something, which turned out to be a pair of black gloves. No one actually saw a gun and we don't believe there was one."
Three of the students were taken to the Hillsboro police station for questioning. The other student was transported by Marion County Ambulance to Hillsboro Community Medical Center, where he was treated for a lacerated wrist and released.
School officials on Tuesday said that two of the students involved in the incident have been suspended from campus, pending a formal investigation.
Tabor President Larry Nikkel was out of state and unavailable for comment. He was not expected back until Wednesday, officials said.
The administrator in charge of the on-campus investigation is Eric Codding, Dean of Students, at Tabor College.
"We have suspended two students until our process of further review can get underway," Codding said.
The suspension prohibits the students from remaining on campus, and both spent Monday night in a motel.
"The 'suspended' designation gives us enough time to do a more thorough review," Codding said. "Because of our process, I'm a little reluctant to go into more detail.
"Obviously it's a serious situation. We certainly recognize that. These were new students, on campus for the first semester."
According to Codding, the two suspended students had been involved in the school's troubled football program, but were no longer on the team.
"These students haven't been on the football team for some time. It's a little unclear as to their football status," he said.
Tabor football coaches were not available for comment, nor did the athletic director's office return calls.
"I've been very pleased with the cooperation that exists between Tabor and local law enforcement," Codding said. "I feel comfortable of being in dialogue with them. We're just very appreciative of their hard work and their willingness to work in a cooperative spirit with us."
Kinning said incidents at Tabor had put a drain on his five-man department.
"I've been with the department for 11 years, and I've never had a year like this at Tabor," said Kinning. "This has been a long year for us. We get called whenever there are any criminal activities.
"It really stresses our department. There are only five of us, including me. A lot of people don't realize there's an extra 500 kids in town when Tabor is here," he said.
"Tabor has got a tradition of being a really good school, and I'm sure they're interested in keeping it that way," he said. "I don't think they anticipated problems this year.
"I think the school is actively working on getting rid of the students who are a problem," he added.
In all four Marion County sheriff's deputies, four Hillsboro police officers, and a Marion police officer were at the scene. Marion County ambulance also was called to take one of the student suspects to Hillsboro Community Medical Center to be treated for the wrist laceration.
"Even though the students involved have refused to press charges we will file a complaint with the county attorney's office for a review. Warrants will likely be issued and they will be charged, as early as this week," Kinning said.
Hillsboro police are investigating of a number of reports of thefts from dorm rooms and automobiles on the Tabor campus.
— Brandon Chinn reported the theft of a Sony Playstation 3. The loss was estimated at $1,500.
— Stephen King reported a theft of an Apple iPod from his college dorm room. The theft occurred sometime on Nov. 13. The loss was estimated at $300.
— Robert Giles reported the theft of $100 from his college dorm room sometime on Nov. 13. The loss was estimated at $300.
— Garrett Bryant reported the theft of several keys from his property while he was at Tabor College gym. The theft occurred sometime that day and was estimated at $68.
— Christopher Waldrop reported the theft of his wallet and debit card from his college dorm room. The debit card was used at various locations in Marion, McPherson, and Harvey counties. The loss was estimated at $1,500.
