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4 UT Students Charged With Burglary, Suspended

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TBO.com

Published: October 3, 2008

Updated: 10/03/2008 06:50 pm

TAMPA - Four University of Tampa students were suspended today after police arrested them on felony burglary and grand theft charges.

The campus newspaper, The Minaret, said the four were burglarizing vehicles outside the University of South Florida football game Thursday night at Raymond James Stadium.

Matthew Falzo, 19, Eric Gross, 20, Benjamin Howley, 20, and William Wise, 20, are charged with multiple counts of felony burglary, felony grand theft and misdemeanor petty theft, jail records show.

University of Tampa Dean of Students Bob Ruday said all were summarily suspended because of the charges, meaning they are not to attend classes and must move off campus until a hearing is scheduled with the office of student conduct. The hearing will allow them to present their side, Ruday said.

Falzo and Gross have campus addresses, according to jail records.

Gross is the only one not charged with a drug offense. Falzo was charged with felony possession of a controlled substance, suboxone, a medication similar to morphine that relieves drug cravings, jail records show.

Wise and Howley were charged with felony possession of marijuana and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia, jail records show.

Gross and Howley removed about $450 in items from one vehicle and about $200 from another vehicle, arrest affidavits state. Police also say they caused about $300 damage to a vehicle's interior console. They were found in possession of some of the stolen items when police stopped them for underage drinking.

Gross and Howley later told police they broke into at least three vehicles in the lot, according to the affidavits.

All four have been released from Orient Road Jail. Gross posted $7,000 bail, Wise posted $14,750 bail, Howley posted $11,250 bail and Falzo posted $18,000 bail.

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