Crime & Safety
Police Arrest American University Professor on Burglary Charges
David Pitts, who chairs AU's Dept. of Public Administration and Policy, also is alleged to have set a fire in building near the AU campus.
DC’s FOX-5 reports that an American University professor who heads a department at the school, was arrested and charged after allegedly breaking into a building near campus and setting property on fire.
The TV station notes that a police report details the alleged burglary and destruction of property they say was carried out overnight by David Pitts, the chair of the Department of Public Administration and Policy.
The professor, with the university since 2005, was arrested Thursday around 3 a.m. at the Foxhall Square Shopping Mall, located in the 3300 block of New Mexico Avenue NW. Evidence of a small fire was still visible, the TV station reported, near a parking attendant booth in the lower parking garage.
Pitts allegedly set the fire and pried open a door of the building and burglarized it, FOX-5 reported the police report as stating. The report noted items the professor had including a white cloth bag, newspaper, black liquid substance, rubber gloves, matches and lighters, FOX-5 reported.
Pitts’ online resume says he has served as the chairman of the Department of Public Administration and Policy for the university since last year. Before that, he was an associate chairman and has served as an assistant professor at AU since 2005.
The following letter was released by American University Friday morning, about the incident:
A member of our community, Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Public Administration and Policy, Dr. David Pitts, was arrested by the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). An MPD investigation is in progress.
The university is cooperating with that investigation.
At this time, we are not aware of any safety threats to our community and we are working closely with MPD and AU Public Safety to continually assess the situation.
Beginning immediately, Dr. Alison Jacknowitz will assume responsibilities as chair of the department, and we are making arrangements for other faculty to assume teaching responsibilities for Dr. Pitts’ classes. We appreciate the support and cooperation of all members of the community during this difficult time.
Rebecca Basu
Public Relations Manager
College of Arts and Sciences
American University
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PHOTO of David Pitts from American University Web site
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