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A man posing as a member of the color guard snuck into Michigan Stadium with two M16 assault rifles as the University of Michigan took on Michigan State Oct. 9 with more than 113,000 fans sitting in the stands, myFOXdetroit.com reported Thursday.
"There wasn't anything that we believe was done incorrectly or improperly by police in any of the checkpoints there," said Diane Brown with the university's Department of Public Safety.
U of M Police did clear the military man and allowed him into the stadium because when they checked his M16s they did not find any ammunition in the guns. They also did not find any ammunition on him, so they did not consider him a threat.
He did not just get into the stadium. The man, who is a full-time member of the National Guard, made his way onto the field with his M16s.
It was a member of the authorized color guard who noticed the man was not with them and reported the impostor to U of M Police.
"Then we escorted him out. He was very compliant, and he just continued to explain that he wanted to come to the game, (but) couldn't get a hold of a ticket and thought he'd use his uniform to be able to do that," Brown said.
It is not that he got into the stadium that troubles people, especially students who attended that game at the Big House, but that he did with two assault weapons. Loaded or not, police bought his story.
"Whether it was for good or bad, in a stadium filled with 113,000 plus, I don't think that's the way to handle such a situation," said Alex Mandel.
To make sure no one else slips through the security cracks, U of M Police and the athletic staff are working together and going over checkpoint protocols.
As for the desperate fan caught with those M16s, he's been arrested and now released pending further investigation.
The case has now been handed over to the Washtenaw County Prosecutor's Office, which has requested additional information. A decision on charges is expected by next week.
