Police Arrest First-Year After Alleged Threats to Girlfriend

Harvard police arrested a first-year student Thursday night for allegedly threatening to kill his girlfriend, who is also a first-year.

The student was given a psychiatric evaluation at the Cambridge City Hospital following his arrest.

According to the Wilmon D. Chipman, the arresting police officer, and his report, the student arrived at his girlfriend's dorm room early Thursday evening. After an argument in which the female student said she wanted to end their six-month relationship, her boyfriend allegedly told her, "I feel like I want to kill you and kill myself."

The female student left her room, and the male student approached one of her roommates, attempting to apologize. He then tried to apologize to her. According to the report, she felt the statements were serious enough to decline the apology.

The female student went to her mother's house and called police.

Acting on the basis of the threats, HUPD charged the student with domestic assault and committing threats. The assault charge, a felony, has since been dropped. The threat charge is a misdemeanor.

An arraignment has been tentatively scheduled for May.

According to Massachusetts statute, an arrest is "preferred" when the victim declares herself to be in imminent danger of physical harm.

After his arrest and booking at HUPD, the student was transported to Cambridge City Hospital for a psychiatric evaluation, under police escort.

In a letter submitted to the Middlesex County District Court Friday morning, a doctor at the Cambridge Health Alliance, an affiliate of Harvard's Medical School, said the student was neither suicidal nor homicidal.

She also recommended that he receive outpatient counseling through University Health Services (UHS), to be arranged by the Freshman Dean's Office.

The female student declined to seek an emergency restraining order, though under law, she was entitled to obtain one. Police said they do not believe the student poses a threat to the community.