UB Police Make Arrests in Red Jacket Incident

Published June 19, 2014 at 5:30 PM This content is archived.

UB Police arrested two women for spraying a noxious substance in the fourth floor of Red Jacket Residence Hall on March 1, causing the evacuation of the North Campus building at approximately 10:20 p.m.

Kayla Lewis of New York City and Lexus Banks of Rochester were charged with unlawful possession of a noxious material, reckless endangerment, criminal trespass and criminal nuisance. Both women are students at Buffalo State College. UB Police will apply for a warrant for a third suspect.

According to police, Lewis and Banks discharged what may have been pepper spray in the hallway and on the door of Lewis’ ex-boyfriend, a resident of Red Jacket. This caused minor respiratory reactions in several students and led to the building’s evacuation.

UB Police and emergency crews responded to the scene and authorized re-entry into the building at 1 a.m., after determining it was safe.

The charges against Lewis and Banks were filed in Amherst Town Court; both women have been banned from the university. 

"This could have been a very dangerous incident; the University at Buffalo takes these crimes very seriously,” said UB Chief of Police Jerry Schoenle. “Thanks to the efforts of our officers, the residence hall staff and the volunteer fire companies who responded, no one suffered serious injuries during this evacuation.”