Police remain mum on Aslam case

MSU police refuse to release specific details or reports about a formerly enrolled MSU freshman for making a terrorist threat or false report of terrorism.

Police arrested Zachariah M. Aslam, a 17-year-old from South Rockwood, Mich., on Oct. 20 after they were informed he was reportedly making threats. Aslam was arraigned Friday in East Lansing’s 54-B District Court before Judge Richard Ball and is being held in Ingham County Jail on a $150,000 bond.

According to the criminal complaint against Aslam, he threatened terrorism and communicated that threat to another person. A friend said Aslam planned to kill himself, possibly by jumping off the Chemistry Building with an explosive device strapped to him. Friends also said he planned to commit suicide by jumping in front of a train.

MSU police Sgt. Florene McGlothian-Taylor has declined to comment on the case, saying it remains open and has been submitted to the prosecutor’s office. The State News filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request with the MSU Department of Police and Public Safety on Wednesday that seeks information about the arrest, the police report about this incident and any other contact police had with Aslam.

Although police are not required to release information regarding a case, there is no law preventing them from doing so, said Herschel Fink, a First Amendment and media lawyer who also has represented The State News.

“The leaders of most communities in Michigan want to keep their public informed on issues such as crime,” he said. “Sadly, that has not been the policy at Michigan State University.”

McGlothian-Taylor referred all questions regarding the case to Ingham County Prosecutor Stuart Dunnings III. Dunnings said investigation into the case continues, as questions still remain. The investigation is “almost never really complete,” he said.

Under the Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct, a prosecutor is barred from making a statement dispersed by means of public communication that could prejudice the adjudication of the case. Dunnings said the original charge came up out of a “mental health setting,” but said he could not comment further.

Though questions remain to be answered by authorities, some close to Aslam have shared what they say they know of the arrest.

A friend called police when Aslam talked about committing suicide, friend and psychology sophomore Matthew Steward said. Steward said police initially contacted Aslam after the friend called.

Andrew Steward, brother to Matthew Steward and also friend to Aslam, said Aslam was interviewed by psychiatrists and released later that night.

Within the next week, police came to the room where Andrew Steward said he and Aslam were studying and escorted Aslam out, returning to collect his belongings.

“They just came in and said, ‘Zach, you need to come with us,’” he said. “Then he said, ‘OK,’ and then they … were talking out in the hallway for maybe 10, 15 minutes, then this police officer came in with gloves on and took all of his stuff.”