By Emily Wunderlich
University police have identified the man accused of battering a student in Residence Hall One last week.
According to Chief David Hendry, Robert Gomez, 21, was the former boyfriend who got into an argument with an RHO resident in the early hours of April 12.
Gomez, a non-student of the university, did not use force to enter the building, but followed the victim inside, where he “hit a student during the incident.”
He was charged with one count of felony burglary with assault or battery because he “stayed on campus without permission,” Hendry said. He was also charged with one count of simple battery — a misdemeanor — and criminal mischief, because of property damaged during the incident.
Hendry said Gomez was not identified in the campus bulletin April 12 because he was no longer a threat to the campus.
Jail records indicate Gomez was released April 14 on a $10,500 bail bond. He is scheduled to appear in court on April 18.
The arrest came just two months after a different violent incident in RHO.
On Feb. 13, police say Anthony Xavier Brown,19, followed a resident into the building to see his ex-girlfriend, whom he went on to beat and batter over the course of seven and a half hours.
The police were able to locate and arrest Brown off campus minutes after receiving a call from the victim.
In an email sent on March 20, Hendry said the university police department is “working with Residential Housing to evaluate technologies and processes” regarding security.
In the meantime, Hendry reminds students to “be prudent” and use the blue police phones stationed around campus in the event of an emergency.
Amy Diaz contributed to this report.
