The Perfect Roommate: Hartford student arrested for Criminal Mischief

18-year-old freshman, Brianna Brochu was arrested Saturday, October 28th on the charge of third degree criminal mischief and second degree breach of peace at Hartford University according to The Hartford Courant.
Campus officials were said to be notified that she had been systemically tampering with her roommate’s personal belongings. Brochu told police that she licked her roommate’s eating utensils and smeared bodily fluids on her backpack.
Brochu admits to “putting moldy clam dip in her lotions, rubbing used tampons on her backpack and putting her toothbrush in places where the sun don’t shine.”
The victim, an African American female, Chennel “Jazzy” Rowe, also a freshman, said on Facebook live that she had been sick throughout the school year starting with a sore throat that she thought was a cold.
Rowe says that she had to spend money that her parents gave her for food and other essentials at the campus health center.
“I had extreme throat pain and couldn’t sleep, to the point I couldn’t speak…I could barely whisper,” Rowe said.
On October 17, in the midst of Rowe switching rooms because she felt that conditions were getting worse, her old neighbor and 2 resident assistants (RA’s) approached her telling her about an Instagram post made by her former roommate.
The post read:“Finally did it. Yo girl got rid of her roommate!! After 1 ½ months of spitting in her coconut oil, putting moldy clam dip in her lotion and rubbing used tampons on her backpack, putting her toothbrush in places where the sun doesn’t shine, and so much more I can finally say goodbye to the Jamaican Barbie.”
When hearing about this incident, freshman Criminal Justice major and RA, Trel’Lesia Perry from Baton Rouge said, “The whole situation disgusts me and there should have been more security measures in the dorm to make sure things like this are avoided.”
A freshman chemistry major from Memphis, Victoria Parker, shares, “I’ve had problems with my roommate, but that’s going too far, especially because it was about the girl being black.”
This incident took Twitter by storm after Rowe’s hour and 40 minute Facebook live stream. People began hash tagging #JusticeForJazzy and saying that the incident was racially motivated and not being taken seriously.
Soon after, the president at Hartford, Greg Woodward, released a statement saying, “The accused student was reprehensible and does not reflect the values of our institution .. acts of racism, bias, and bullying, or other abusive behaviors will not be tolerated on this campus.”
Rowe says that she does intend to press charges but nothing can be done until the school’s public safety is done investigating.
Brochu is currently out on $1,000 bail and each charge is a maximum sentence of six months in prison and a potential fine and Brochu must appear in court. But many people are not satisfied with the charges.
The Connecticut chapter of the NAACP is calling for a felony hate crime charge immediately. Police have completed the investigation and are seeking a hate crime.
Hartford State’s Attorney, Gail Hardy, says investigators are waiting to talk with Brochu’s roommate before deciding how to proceed.
Police began this investigation on October 18th and Brochu turned herself in the following Saturday.