Editor's Note: This information is taken directly from Middletown Police arrest reports. The accused are presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of law.
A naked 20-year-old student, so high and combative on psychedelic mushrooms that he had to be twice, led officers on a chase near campus after terrifying a 10-year-old girl at her home, report.
On April 14 at 5:45 p.m., police were called to a home in the 200 block of Cross Street on the report that a man, later identified as Max J. Shafer-Landau, 20, of Church Street, had tried to get into the house through the back door, according to the arrest report.
On the scene, police saw a naked man running up the hill of Jukonski’s Auto on Thomas Street toward Butternut Street and past several people enjoying Butternut Hollow Park, the report says.
Officers ordered Shafer-Landau to put his hands in the air and to stop, however, he ran about 20 feet before police tackled him, the report says, as he struggled and pulled one officer’s hair.
The report says a Taser was used, which allowed officers to get one of Shafer-Landau's hands in handcuffs but he pulled away and needed to be Tased a second time. Still, he flailed his feet, so officers put shackles on his ankles and carried him to the car as Shafer-Landau “contorted” his body and struggled.
Back at the home, a 10-year-old female victim said in the report she was in her kitchen looking out the window when a man ran from the woods in the back yard toward the house, opened the outside door and came inside the porch.
It's unclear when exactly the man became unclothed.
She was scared and crying as he turned the door handle but it was locked, the report says. She then saw him run back toward the woods, the report details.
At headquarters, Shafer-Landau told officers he was “under the influence of mushrooms” and the last thing he remembers is eating a brownie with mushrooms in it. In his cell, the report says, “he began to exhibit unusual behavior, including masturbation.”
Police soon identified him as a Wesleyan University student with a Wisconsin photo identification card that was found in his dorm room.
He was charged with second-degree criminal trespass, interfering with an officer, assault of a public safety officer, and second-degree breach of peace.
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