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Eben Ryan Mallory (standing) accused his former roommate Justin Ward of committing a crime at the Miller Learning Center near Jittery Joe's Coffee. Mallory held Ward in a headlock until police arrived.

Mallory and Ward wrote statements for the police explaining yesterday afternoon's incident. Mallory wants the police to investigate the alleged crime.

Student accuses other of crime, holds in headlock

By: BRITTANY COFER

Posted: 10/30/08

A University student held his former roommate in a headlock after accusing him of a crime Wednesday afternoon in the Miller Learning Center.

Eben Ryan Mallory, a graduate student from Aspen, Colo., said he was aware of a previous incident involving one of his friends and Justin Ward, a junior from Royston. Mallory said he saw Ward sitting near Jittery Joe's and approached to ask if he committed the crime.

"[Ward] was saying 'no' and I heard [Mallory] say he was calling the police," said Charles Ryan Barber, a junior from Saint Simons Island who witnessed the conversation.

Barber said he didn't see Ward move, but Mallory placed him in a headlock in what at first appeared to be a joke. But he stayed that way until security arrived.

"Seven or eight officers showed up and they separated them," Barber said.

Mallory said he wants the police to take over and investigate the alleged crime. Mallory and Ward wrote statements for the police.

"I made sure the cops got here," Mallory said. "They're the ones who need to step up. This [crime] is not something I take lightly."

But Mallory said he was sorry the situation occurred and that his emotions took hold of him.

"I just wanted to make sure he didn't go anywhere," he said.