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PD: Nude Wes Student, High on Mushrooms, Spooks Girl

Middletown Police say a naked 20-year-old from Wisconsin who told them he only remembered eating a mushroom-laced brownie was Tased twice after he repeatedly resisted arrest after startling the girl at her home.

 

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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An average, liberal, citizen April 17, 2012 at 03:07 pm
this is one of the most malicious posts I've ever seen on the internet. Seriously, I've been on forums exclusively for music piracy and expressly illegal behavior and they will BAN you if you post anyone's personal information. The public shaming/punishment that John Q Public is sadistically encouraging, for someone who hasn't even had a trial or day in court, is disturbing and sickening. Vigilante justice should NOT be acceptable in America, whether that's people like "Bobo" threatening to shoot a kid because of a Patch article or John Q Public, who wants to see a kid's life ruined as he sits in anonymity behind his computer. Shame on you.
Cassandra Day, I hope you remove his post. And for that matter, is there any reason why the kid's last name and first initial is even mentioned AT ALL in your article? Do journalistic integrity, assumptions of personal privacy, and frankly human decency fall to the wayside for the sake of a juicy detail in a Patch article? Mrs Day, I encourage you to rethink your harmful and degrading privacy policy.
To Daryl April 17, 2012 at 03:20 pm
daryl where is your post bashing the Insider? It was deleted soon after?
Bobo April 17, 2012 at 03:25 pm
LMAO @ legal trouble. I will comment where and when I want, this is not yet the Communist utopia you would like to live under. As far as using a licensed weapon to protect my family from an out of control naked person high on drugs trying to crash through my door and possibly causing harm to my 10 year old, I would be well within my rights as an American citizen. This has nothing in common with the sad story of either Justin-Jinuch or Martin. I am awating a comment in the newspaper from Wesleyan on what they are going to do to remove this person from our community. Until that happens I have pretty much said what needs to be said.
BOBO!!!! April 17, 2012 at 03:35 pm
BOBO!!!!
14 seconds ago @Michael - incredibly well-put. Was going to say the same thing regarding threatening to use a GUN!!!! on Shafer-Landau. A freakin' GUN!! Are you kidding me? @John Q. Public - "Sparky," "whacko," and "psycho" will never stick either in college or after because the people that go to Wesleyan know who he is and know what he's really like. With regards to Bobo's previous comment wanting the father of the girl to spend 10 minutes with Mr. Shafer Landau, I'm pretty sure that after those 10 minutes they'd both leave good friends. That's the type of person he is. @guest posting the Sacramento online article - that guy was an IMMIGRANT, possibly illegal (I didn't read the whole thing if it specifies anywhere) and Shafer-Landau is an awesome, fun, kind, and intelligent STUDENT who is actually contributing to both society and the Wesleyan/Middletown community so to those who say to "be nice to your neighbors in Middletown," Shafer Landau is nicer than 95% of Wes on any other day. Can we all also realize that it was WesFest AND Zonker Harris day and some crazy shit was bound to happen in some form?
Buddh@ April 17, 2012 at 03:45 pm
Though I remain firm in what I wrote earlier, I also agree with Michale and Average Citizen. This man needs a reality check, but I was wondering exactly why his full last name appeared in the article to begin with. Actually, I don't think I've ever seen the names of anyone other than self-identified "victims" in any police blotter before. One would think, if you're writing a police blotter, you would be concerned about the safety of everyone involved in each case (considering your limited knowledge of the issue). I do believe that the authorities should handle this case accordingly, but this public shaming trick you've played here is unnecessary and troubling. I don't feel bad for the student mentioned in the article as a result of this because he's old enough to have a certain degree of sense which he did not make use of here, but I do feel disappointed in Cassandra Day for pulling this kind of stunt.
OldManCtRiver April 17, 2012 at 04:14 pm
If he's so damned smart -- and for that matter if you're so damned smart -- why aren't you both at Yale tripping your damned balls off!?!?!?!?
wes alum '05 April 17, 2012 at 04:31 pm
@townies_whatajoke - as a proud wes alum, i would just say that fortunately not all students are as arrogant and obnoxious as you are, although i love shrooms so i don't necessarily disagree with you about throwing the book at this kid. on the other hand, he clearly has some issues to sort out, plenty of people shroom and don't completely flip their shit, he has to own that.
while i think @townies_whatajoke's attitude is obnoxious and arrogant, i definitely had my fair share of trashy white working class townie teenagers yell obscenities at me, call me a "faggot" because i happened to be wearing a pink oxford shirt, etc. people are people. some people really suck, some are really cool, and most are OK :-)
Bobo April 17, 2012 at 04:35 pm
Last one......I guess all you "smart" Wesleyan people need an education. 1'st.. Names of people arrested for CRIMES are ALWAYS printed in the newspaper. 2'nd To the posters who have stated this will soon be forgotten.. welcome to the Internet age where NOTHING goes away. Google this idiots name and see how many hits you come up with, this will follow him for life. Have a sparkling day !
John Q. Public April 17, 2012 at 05:44 pm
The names of those arrested are routinely released by the police unless the person is under age 18. Newspapers and this blog print the names of those people arrested every single day, and in fact they often print the persons mug shot as well. The MIddletown Press has also fully identified Mr. Shafer-Landau and other papers will be publishing the story in the coming days. You may not like it, but it is not some "trick" or "stunt" or something that is unique to this situation. This is what happens when you get arrested. I don't suggest that it is fair, but that is what happens.
For Average Citizen's benefit, since the article itself identifies Mr. Shafer-Landau, your suggestion that I am malicious or should be banned for posting his "personal information" or pointing out the obvious consequences of his actions is rather nonsensical. If his life is ruined by these events it is because of his actions, not my words. If you think that people are going to be laughing at him because I said they would you have greatly overestimated my influence on the universe. I can observe and predict human behavior, but I am not the cause of it. If you are not happy about the consequences that befall your friend from this incident then put the blame where it belongs, on him.
Lemmings Off a Cliff April 17, 2012 at 06:18 pm
Why does every discussion about a Wesleyan student turn into a townie vs them discussion? Fellow students defend this person for walking into a house naked with children present. No townie would defend another local if one did this to a student on the campus, and you bet they would be charged with indecent exposure and if the student were a minor endangerment. Double standard.
Darrell Lucas April 17, 2012 at 06:25 pm
I wrote it Sunday night when I first saw the Insiders post and it was posted Monday. After some proof reading and a comment (thanks wyatt) I decided to retract the blog and re-write some key points to better reflect the message I'm sending. It should be back soon.
Teea April 17, 2012 at 07:19 pm
IMMIGRANTS, "possibly illegal" persons can also be awesome, fun, kind, and intelligent students, who contribute to society.
It is a gross and de-humanizing generalization you are making.
WesAlum April 17, 2012 at 08:55 pm
pinheads? You obviously watch Bill O'Reilly. Somehow the tone of your statements make more sense now. http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/david/oreilly-attacks-simpsons-pinheads-after-fox-
chernevik April 18, 2012 at 02:12 am
Wes '89.
I don't really care what he intended, what he did was scary and out of control. "Under the influence" is no excuse, he placed himself out of control and is responsible for his actions in that state. And where the hell were this kid's "friends"? Now you. What purpose does your arrogant little screed serve? Did you intend to sound ignorant, irresponsible and unpleasant? It's hard to tell what's stupider, your intentions or your execution of them. Maybe you should apply that fantastic potential to living up to your own opinion of yourself.
Jared Branch April 18, 2012 at 04:14 am
Dude I haven't used the word "stated" since elementary school.. But seriously, most Wesleyan kids have better things to do with their time than blog on this joke of an excuse for an online resource. They sure as hell know about the Freedom of Information Act and its influence on public record, as well as when and where apostrophes are acceptable to use. Yea keep shitting on an undoubtedly kind soul who will end up a happier, more successful man in most facets of life. It makes you look so tough.
Wesley Anstuden April 18, 2012 at 04:55 am
Just so we're all clear, 99% of Wesleyan students do not look down on "townies". The students posting here only want to be "edgy" and get a rise out of you all on the internet.
Also, the student did not walk into the house naked. The student tried to break into the house, and the student was running in the street naked. These are two different things that happened. For what it's worth, the student says that he did not masturbate, but rather had to pee.
Bob Evans April 18, 2012 at 05:47 am
Your friend probably has a latent psychosis to have a reaction. That shouldn't prevent him from leading a great, regular life but I would implore you to get him to stop using psychedelics ever again.
Jim April 18, 2012 at 11:44 am
Given that the young victim is a townie, it is almost certain that this was neither the first nor the last time she has seen an intoxicated naked man. Facts are facts.
Jim April 18, 2012 at 11:48 am
Also, the supreme townie hypocrisy here is that their silence, laziness, and cowardice allows crackheads, junkies, prostitutes, and felons to run the north end of Main St., but as soon as a single Wesleyan student does ANYTHING wrong, it is front page news, and there major outrage. Morons, plain and simple.
Int'l Alum April 18, 2012 at 02:31 pm
I agree with Lemmings Off a Cliff. Despite a few efforts to integrate Wesleyan students in the greater community there is still a lot of hate (yes, hate) between the two. As a former international student this was very disturbing to me and I have had the personal experience of sitting in a restaurant while a man loudly disparaged Wesleyan students. I've sat in the driving school lecture while the instructor did the same. With such hostility, why would the students feel safe interacting with the greater community?
Hostility breeds hostility. I feel that this is one of the main reasons that the Wesleyan campus is actually such an unsafe place - the open campus status unites as well as divides, but if students didn't have a perceived status of "rich", "privileged" and most of all "elitist" then perhaps fewer assaults and robberies would happen on campus. I think the student should be expelled or at least suspended. I think the commenter named Bobo maybe has some issues/had a serious conflict with a Wesleyan person in the past...or whatever, I don't really care, there's no need for an explanation, everyone has the right to be mean and that's fine. I think that the greater conflict in these threads need to be addressed, and I think that Wesleyan students and Middletown residents need to stop thinking that they are each the victim and work towards something constructive.
Bobo April 18, 2012 at 04:02 pm
Max J. Shafer-Landau gave up his right to privacy when he went waltzing thru Butternut park then tried to ram through the door of a 10 year old girl naked and high on drugs, Max J. Shafer-Landau also gave up his right to privacy and got quite a chuckle around town and nationaly as this story is going viral, when naked in his cell he decided to pleasure himself like a caged monkey (you can't make this stuff up) . Max J. Shafer-Landau needs to be concerned on where this video of his jail time "experince" will end up. Finaly none of the Wesleyan students on this board trying to say what a swell guy Max J. Shafer-Landau is have bothered to ask how is the 10 year old and how has this affected her. Max J. Shafer-Landau name will continue to be published as he works his way through the court system. Have a sparkling day.
Are you not ashamed? April 18, 2012 at 05:35 pm
Long story short: man runs around on shrooms, completely non-aggressive, enters a porch fully clothed and then leaves the porch. Also, according to the Middletown Press article and apparently the accused, here are the things this article/police got wrong:
1. He was not naked when he entered the porch 2. The people who reported him and saw him on their porch was a mom and a 10-year old SON 3. He did not masturbate in his cell. (Which by the way... since when does the totally legal things someone does in a personal jail cell, AFTER AND UNRELATED TO THE ARREST, get mentioned in an arrest report?) 4. Did he 'pull an officer's hair' in an aggressive way? Or, as is clear to anyone reading the rest of the description, was he simply scared and trying desperately to flee? In sum, what we have here is more than just the Patch reporter 'forgetting' the gender of the child and 'assuming' that the accused was naked at the porch, or the police officer deciding that it's his job to report on whether the accused was picking his nose/masturbating/whatever in the jail cell or not. It's a deliberate attempt to distort the story in order to paint the accused as a sexual deviant. Thank you sensationalist, obscure news reporter and pissed-off, totally unprofessional police officer for doing your utmost to make sure people think of him as a sex offender and pedophile. That was really nice of you guys to do.
townies_whatajoke April 18, 2012 at 08:44 pm
The truth is that most Wes students hate the townie scum. Middletown sucks, and it is a shame that such a great school has to be surrounded by such trash.
It is funny how much effort some of you townies are putting into your posts, and then criticizing student posts for not being accurate or being uneducated. When I am on a crap website talking to townie scum, I don't put any effort into my words. Why would townie scum deserve anything from me? I'm a 20 year old, white, privileged male. I have nothing to do with townie scum and never will. When I am in an interview for a high-salary job, I'll put some effort into it and get hired. In the end, no matter how much you guys detest Wes students, we are going to win. We are the winners, and you are the losers. We pay $58k a year and get educated and can trip our balls off with a fraction of the consequences that a townie scum would have. Do you know why Wesleyan students face fewer consequences? Because Middletown needs us. Because we are a gift to the world. Because we are wealthy and privileged and intelligent and the future of America. Bye bye now townie scum, sucks to suck.
townies_whatajoke April 18, 2012 at 08:53 pm
email me your phone number @ fugiiii@gmail.com and I will gladly give any of you a call and we can talk further on the phone. Clearly you think that posting online is a cop-out... fine- give me some other way to get in touch with you.
Bobo April 19, 2012 at 01:18 pm
I take it that you are a Wesleyan student since you use the term "townie", to make these type of remarks concerning an innoncet 10 year old is beyond belief. NO-one is to blame except Max J. Shafer-Landau. I am STILL waiting for comment from the Wesleyan administration on how they are going to handle removing this SCUM from our town. Maybe a re-read of the book The Ethical Life: Fundamental Readings in Ethics and Moral Problems would be advised. Have a sparkling day.
John Brush April 19, 2012 at 06:46 pm
John Q. nails it!
John Q. Public April 19, 2012 at 07:30 pm
Wesleyan has a large number of incredibly bright and talented students. Many of them are a very valuable asset to the community while they are here, some are never a part of the community, and a small number are just a nuisance. Some will go on to accomplish great things, some will never live up to their potential.
John Q. Public April 20, 2012 at 01:50 am
FYI: From the Middletown Press
"CORRECTION: The victims were a woman and her 10-year-old daughter, not a 10-year-old son, according to the police report". Also, the Patch article does not say that the individual was naked when he tried to break into the home. You can criticize the police for including the details about his alleged activities in his cell, but I think Patch has accurately reported the details of the police report.
Wesleyan alum, Parent of current student April 21, 2012 at 01:57 am
As a Wes student in the early '80s, I was walking in a cross walk to what was then Atticus Books (Broad Street Books now, I believe), and was hit by a car driven by a woman--a Middletown resident not associated with Wesleyan--who was clearly completely drugged out. I had a couple of bad bruises and scrapes but decided not to report her to the police. Perhaps I should have, but I was young and was trying to be kind. I also volunteered teaching test-taking skills to local high school students. A local family very generously allowed me to observe their family dinner for a psychology paper I was writing. My daughter is at Wes now and I know that now as then, there are lot of quiet acts of kindness happening all the time among students and residents and Middletown, and it's a shame that they don't get attention.
Mike April 21, 2012 at 12:23 pm
Yes crazy shit does happen near a college. Crazy shit happens near my house too.
If this kid had wandered onto my property he would have been cured forever of taking drugs. Want to find out? Take some shrooms, and come over. I will cure you of being a spoiled condescending asshole for good. Don't forget kid, there are some powerful clubs in Middletown ;)

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