KU News Release

Tip to KU Crime Stoppers leads to cash reward for caller

LAWRENCE — An anonymous tip provided to the University of Kansas Crime Stoppers Program helped to identify a suspect in an arson case on the KU campus — and resulted in a reward for the caller.

On Sept. 19, an individual set fire to a banner hanging in a residence hall lobby. The fire was extinguished, and no one was injured. Because the building was occupied at the time, the act is an aggravated arson.

After the incident, a call was placed to the KU Crime Stoppers line. The information, combined with officers’ investigations, resulted in identification of a suspect. A report has been sent to the Douglas County District Attorney’s office for charges. Because the information provided helped to identify a suspect, the caller was given a cash reward.

Crime Stoppers is a national program that operates within local communities. The goal is to use the combined resources of citizens, the media and law enforcement to bring perpetrators of crimes into the criminal justice system. KU’s program was established in 1990. It gives citizens an opportunity to provide police with information about criminal activity anonymously. KU’s Crime Stoppers phone line is available 24 hours a day at (785) 864-8888.

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The University of Kansas is a major comprehensive research and teaching university. University Relations is the central public relations office for KU's Lawrence campus.