MAN JUMPS FROM 11TH FLOOR

Police: UNCC freshman was being arrested in dorm room when he dove out
window

A UNC Charlotte freshman jumped from his 11th-floor dormitory window Friday
afternoon as police tried to arrest him, officials said.

Adam Stephens, 19, was in handcuffs as he descended head-first into bushes
below, witnesses and Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said.

Stevens was airlifted to Carolinas Medical Center where he was in critical
condition late Friday.

At least two Charlotte-Mecklenburg officers and at least two campus police
officers were inside the student's room on the top floor of Moore Hall,
authorities said. They'd been inside the student's room for at least an hour
executing a court-ordered search warrant, police said.

Police did not make a copy of the warrant available or say exactly what was
found in the rare campus search. The student, who is from New York, was
charged with possession of marijuana with intent to sell, authorities said.

Police have not said what they believe led the student to jump. They also
haven't said how close the officers were to him when he jumped.

"There doesn't appear to have been a struggle in the room," said
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Detective Harold Jackson. "We're still sorting out
exactly what happened."

Only police and the student were in the room when authorities say the
student jumped about 4:40 p.m.

The status of the officers involved was not immediately released. Officers
are generally placed on administrative duty pending internal investigations
after incidents involving police and serious injuries or death.

Hours after an emergency medical helicopter took off from a nearby grassy
area, students milled outside the dormitory. Some walked by carrying luggage
as they left for spring break.

Freshman Charlie Garrett, 19, of Wilkesboro, stood still, looking at the
bushes where the student landed. He said he'd been walking near Moore Hall
when the rustling of blinds grabbed his attention.

"It didn't look real at first," Garrett said.

Stevens was silent on the way down, Garrett said. He appeared to still be
conscious, but seriously injured, as he lay on his back, he added.

Dede Cromwell, also a freshman, lives in a nearby dorm. She watched as
firefighters and paramedics worked on the injured student.

"I don't know how something like this could happen," she said. "From what I
know, he's a good kid."

School officials said there are no bars or screens on the windows at the
dorm because they would impede rescue efforts in case of a fire. They said
it was doubtful a screen could have prevented the injury. The window was
open when he jumped, police said.

Counselors were made available to students in the 500-resident co-ed
dormitory soon after the incident, said Jackie Simpson, associate vice
chancellor for housing. They'll also be available a week from Sunday when
students return from break.