Cougar news services
Responding to an April 17 Daily Cougar story about an on-campus bicycle theft allegedly perpetrated by an on-duty Aramark employee, University of Houston Police Department officials said that, contrary to earlier published reports, the person who stole the bicycle did not receive aid (in the form of lock-cutting equipment) from a UHPD corporal.
UHPD Lt. Malcolm Davis said UHPD Cpl. Sarah Cortez was asked by Leonard "Leo" Robinson, who was charged Thursday with the theft of the bicycle, to cut the lock, indicating that the bicycle belonged to him.
"He asked, 'I lost my key - how do I get in?'" Davis said.
UHPD Lt. Helia DuRant said Cortez informed Robinson of UHPD's policy regarding lock cutting, a process that involves proof of ownership on the part of the person requesting assistance.
"We do provide that service," DuRant said, "but we have to get ownership verification." However, he added, Robinson did not present proof of ownership and, subsequently, Cortez did not cut the lock to free the bicycle.
So how was the lock cut?
"(Robinson) declined to share that with us," Davis said.