“Tunnels are looped, which means that more than one tunnel serves each building.”
Students in the 1980s were known to trespass in tunnels to play “Dungeons and Dragons.” Students in similar tunnel systems at other universities have been involved in fatal accidents. But Swanson says trespassing is rare today.
“Since then, we’ve added a very robust security system, all of the entrances are now locked and monitored. The U-M Police Department takes unlawful entry to the tunnels very seriously,” he says.
“Persons authorized to work in the tunnels have received specialized training and follow safety protocols specific to the environment. Violators are subject to prosecution for crimes ranging from trespass to breaking and entering depending on the circumstances,” he says.
Members of the public who believe they see an unsecured utility entrance are asked to contact university police.
"All the entrances are secured," said Verge, "and if manholes are left open for ventilation, there are usually people working nearby."
Manhole entry is possible, and likely unsecured.
The U-M charges intruders with breaking and entering as well as unlawful entry. The former is a felony and the latter is a misdemeanor, but both require a lawyer and you to court. Either can result in a combination of fines, imprisonment, community service, and probation.
LSA freshmen Michael Samples, James McCann and another student who did not wish to release his name could be charged with unlawful entry. They entered the tunnel system through an unlocked door in the basement of the Michigan Union. They were able to walk easily around the tunnels for about an hour until they were apprehended by DPS officers directly underneath the Fleming Administration Building at around 11:15 p.m. Motion detectors alerted officers to the students position.
Motion detectors, not surprising - security cameras are expensive and take too much to monitor. Possible infrared beam (good) or camera motion sensing (bad).
We can check if James McCann or Micheal Samples were charged or taken to court via public records.
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Doing research on court records on James McCann in Michigan to see if any legal action was taken. In progress.James McCann Court Records
ID #: COA 187940
Lawyer: Law Office of John R. Jackson - Grand Rapids, MI
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