Six students were referred to the University because of a kidnapping incident at the Avent Ferry Complex, according to Jim Sughrue, director of public affairs with the Raleigh Police Department.

The kidnapping incident occurred Sept. 28.  According to the case report, one of the six student also received a judicial referral for six counts of weapons violations.  The seized weapons included two pendent knives, one cane sword, and three pairs of brass knuckles. 

“There was an incident involving six students that could be considered kidnapping,” John Barnwell, campus police public relations manager, said. “That’s a Raleigh Police Department case.”

The kidnapping incident was written as a miscellaneous information report, Sughrue said.

“We write things as miscellaneous reports if there were no charges,” Sughrue said.  “The report is done.”

According to Sughrue, the kidnapping incident appears to be a prank that went too far.

“One person got put into the trunk of a vehicle,” Sughrue said.  “I think this is either a prank or practical joke that got out of hand.”

The police report was forwarded to a detective at Campus Police for review, according to Sughrue.