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Suspect Charged With Felony Larceny, Resisting Arrest in West Campus Incident

Duke University Police on Monday evening apprehended a man suspected of stealing a backpack from a Duke student in Perkins Library.

Late Monday, Jeffrey Alan Velez Jr., 20, of Durham, has been charged with felony larceny; resist, obstruct and delay officers; and second-degree trespass. He was being held in the Durham County Jail under a $5,000 bond. Velez had previously been trespassed from Duke property.

The theft was immediately reported to Duke police and the suspect, who is not a Duke student, was observed boarding a Duke bus.

After initially refusing to leave the bus, the suspect exited but resisted efforts by Duke Police to administer handcuffs. A Duke police officer on the scene finally approved the use of pepper spray to subdue the suspect.

Contrary to some initial reports on the incident, Duke Police did not use a Taser or other electroshock device with the suspect.