Senior Arrested in Assault on Police

A Currier House senior was arrested for assault by the Harvard University Police Department (HUPD) following an incident early Saturday morning.

HUPD charged Sienna R. Owens '01 with assault and battery on a police officer, a class-one felony, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.

The incident began shortly before 2 a.m., when HUPD officers approached Owens in the entrance to Currier House, according to HUPD spokesperson Peggy A. McNamara. Officers had had contact with Owens just prior to the interview, and were concerned for her well-being, McNamara said.

During the interview, Owens became belligerent, and repeatedly struck one of the HUPD officers. The officers subsequently took her into custody.

McNamara said that alcohol might have been a factor in the incident.

"She's a really great girl and a good student, " said Tom H. Elke '01, a friend who lives down the hall from Owens. "I just hope everything works out for her."

Dean of the College Harry R. Lewis '68 declined to comment on the case.

Owens, 23, was arraigned in Middlesex District Court yesterday morning. The court scheduled a pretrial hearing on March 27. The prosecuting attorney will then decide whether to continue to press charges. If convicted on all charges, Owens could face up to five years in prison.

Owens is a government concentrator and native of San Jose, Calif. The Currier House resident was unavailable for comment yesterday.

The last time a student was arrested for a class-one felony was when a first-year threatened to kill his girlfriend last year.

--Staff writer Joseph P. Flood can be reached at flood@fas.harvard.edu.

--Staff writer Garrett M. Graff can be reached a ggraff@fas.harvard.edu