Tuesday morning, the Grambling State University Police Department made two arrests – and more. They seized several pounds of marijuana and a semi-automatic handgun in a residence hall in Freshman Village.
Police Lt. Ruby Jones says Donavan Taylor, 20, a freshman from Lancaster, Texas, and Trevonne Mingo, 18, freshman from Bogalusa, have been arrested and are being charged with possession and intent to distribute illegal drugs as well as criminal conspiracy. Mingo had been involved in an incident on March 17 in which he was charged with aggravated battery. Both students have been booked into the Lincoln Parish Detention Center where they are awaiting bond.
”This has been a strictly internal campus investigation by our university police department, and while we don’t like what the investigation has yielded, we want our students, faculty and staff to realize that we are our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers,” President Frank Pogue in a news release. “We are responsible for what we, and our associates do, or, at a minimum, we’re responsible for reporting suspicious activity.”
The investigation began March 24, after a home invasion in Douglass Hall Room 145 on campus. An argument, what the police believe was the cause of the incident, involved five or six males. A 16 year-old was also arrested and charged with home invasion, criminal conspiracy and misrepresentation at booking as a result.
Tuesday morning, investigations found a large amount of packaged marijuana, as well as a .45 caliber semi-automatic handgun and a large amount of cash.
“With these two arrests student as well as faculty feel safer on campus,” said Drextel Pickles, a management major from Dallas. “I feel safer knowing campus police are doing their job,”
“We anticipate additional arrests as the investigation continues,” said Jones.
“No one is exempt from an investigation on campus if they are in violation of the law. We welcome all information and tips, anonymous or otherwise. Students and others can talk with any campus official, not just the police.”