A UIPD case report revealed further details about the Sept. 6 arrest of a man at Grainger Engineering Library, where he was charged with battery and disorderly conduct.
The offender was identified as 21-year-old Akshay Garud, a senior in Engineering. UIPD arrested Garud and took him to the Champaign County Sheriff’s Office Jail after he refused to leave Grainger.
The report details that at approximately 2 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 6, Garud made unwanted romantic advances toward a group of female students on the second floor of Grainger.
Garud passed paper notes to the group and made remarks about their appearances.
According to the case report, Garud wrote his phone number on one of the notes, and the victim responded, “I have a boyfriend.”
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Garud then wrote another note, wadded it up and threw it at the victim, hitting her in the head. One side of the note said, “You guys are also beautiful,” while the other said, “Don’t make me do this. Be a good person.”
The group found the behavior concerning and alerted Grainger staff of the incident.
“After (the victim) spoke to the front desk, she returned to where she was studying. Garud continued his odd behavior by loudly playing music on his phone and moving around,” said UIPD Sergeant Michael Unander in the report. “His behavior and attention were still being directed towards the girls.”
Grainger staff then called UIPD to have Garud removed from the library for disruptive behavior.
Officer Charles Hoskins was the first officer to arrive at Grainger and found Garud sitting at a table in the center of the study hall.
“I informed Garud that if he didn’t leave willingly, I would remove him by force,” Hoskins said.
Garud then got up and began walking toward the door, appearing as though he would cooperate. However, he changed directions and started walking toward the students he made romantic advances toward. Hoskins instructed Garud not to approach them, but his commands were ignored.
“I grabbed Garud’s clothing, arms and upper torso, attempting to both control and pull him away from the other students,” Hoskins said. “Garud resisted me, he pulled away from me and crumpled to the library floor.”
Unander arrived soon after and reported to the library’s second floor.
“I arrived and observed Garud lying on the floor on his side, refusing Officer Hoskins’ commands to get up and walk out of the building,” Unander said. “As Officer Hoskins was speaking with staff, I asked Garud to stand up and sit in a chair that was next to him, to which he complied.”
Unander began to explain to Garud the potential ramifications of his behavior. The two then walked towards the exit.
As the pair was walking out, Unander saw Officer Jason Bradley and began to brief Bradley on what was happening. Garud took this opportunity to divert paths and walk toward the middle of the room.
Garud then attempted to enter the room where Hoskins was interviewing the victims. Bradley reacted by placing Garud into handcuffs. Cell phone footage captured this part of the incident, showing Garud resisting arrest as the officers attempted to handcuff him.
In the video, Garud is seen repeatedly calling out to onlookers for help while officers restrain him against a wall. At one point, Garud said, “Guys, help me,” and “I was just trying to compliment her.”
When Garud arrived at the CCSO Jail, a CCSO deputy instructed him to place his released hands on the glass window. After Garud resisted and refused to comply, several other CCSO deputies came inside the booking area and grabbed hold of him.
“The CCSO deputies warned Garud several times to stop resisting or he would be tased,” the report read. “Garud refused to comply, and he was tased by CCSO deputies.”
Later, CCSO provided Garud with a green safety garment in his holding cell, a common practice when detainees show signs of agitation.
Garud was released from CCSO Jail on the evening of Sept. 6.
