A Department of Campus Safety (DCS) officer confiscated multiple martial arts weapons at Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity while responding to a noise complaint related to a party involving underage drinking last Friday at 12:45 a.m. In total, four martial arts weapons were found including a katana, a kusarigama, a bokken and a set of nunchucks.
The owner of the weapons, sophomore Sean Duncan, said that the weapons are required for his martial arts weapons training, which he has participated in since age 16. Duncan said that he started martial arts at age 12.
“I’m hoping everything is going to be ok,” said Duncan. “As a martial artist, not having those weapons is like not having a hockey stick for a hockey player; [the weapons] are for practicing and training.”
DCS Sergeant Steve Banet said that the officer responding to the call confiscated the weapons and placed them in evidence because they are allegedly not allowed on campus.
“You can’t have these types of weapons on campus,” said Banet.
According to the DCS report, the responding officer saw a pair of nunchucks when Duncan opened his room. The officer wrote in the report that based on his own training he knew that the weapon was illegal in the state of Colorado. Duncan, however, disagrees.
“They are legal for practicing martial arts,” said Duncan.
State statute 18-12-105.5 makes it illegal to carry or posses a deadly weapon on the grounds of a private university. However, the classification of nunchucks as a deadly weapon is not directly mentioned in the statute. Section 18-1-901(3)(e) mentions a firearm, a knife, a bludgeon or any other weapon, device, instrument, material or substance, whether animate or inanimate, as a deadly weapon.
DCS officers responded to the noise complaint with a building check.
On scene, DCS found two underage students drinking at 12:26 a.m. The underage students had their drinks poured out by the officer and were written up. A Greek Life counselor was called to the scene.
“The students were allowed to leave and were cited by Campus Safety,” said Banet. “They will be charged by the university through the office of student conduct.”
The officers proceeded to break up the party with the help of a police officer from the Denver Police Department (DPD). After finding the weapons in the Lambda house, the officers were confronted by a former DU student, who also claimed to be a former Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity member. The DCS officers asked the former student to leave the area; he refused.
The DPD officer then proceeded to ask him to leave. The former student again refused to leave. DPD then proceeded to handcuff the former student. The officers did not arrest the student but cited him with trespassing on DU campus.
“If a person is interfering with an investigation we are well within our right to ask them to leave,” said Banet.
Banet said that Duncan could be charged for his possession of weapons through the university, in a similar manner to the underage students that were caught drinking at the party.
“I imagine the student in position will have to go through the office of student conduct,” said Banet.
Duncan said that he finds the situation bizarre.
“Everyone was aware that I was a martial artist, it’s not like I had a gun in my room,” said Duncan. “I think it’s pretty absurd to look at this situation in a negative light.”
