COGNITIVE INTERVIEW 1

Take Out/ Dine In Interview

by

Alizé Bland

B.S. Program in Psychology: Forensic

Mansfield University

for

Professor Mark Thompson

CJA 3262: Criminal Interview and Interrogation

October 2021
COGNITIVE INTERVIEW 2

OPENING PARAGRAPH:
Resident Assistant Matthew Strickler, a white male, stricklermb14@mansfield.edu, was
interviewed at his place of employment, Spruce Hall, Front Desk, Mansfield University,
Mansfield, PA, 16933. STRICKLER was advised of the identity of the interviewing officer.
STRICKLER was advised that the interview concerned the subject regarding the last time they
ate at a restaurant (or ordered take-out).

STATEMENT:
STRICKLER stated that on Wednesday, October 6, 2021, the last time he ate at a restaurant was
in Lower Manser Dining Hall around 10:20 AM. STRICKLER has been attending this Manser
Dining Hall at least once a week since the semester has started. STRICKLER stated that he was
“eating alone” but conversed with many of his colleagues who passed him in walking or while
ordering foods. During this time, only breakfast was being served so he ordered a meal that
would last him until lunchtime.

STRICKLER described the morning rush of people walking through the cafeteria as energetic.
During this time of the day, not a lot of people were passing through the cafeteria but the ones
that were had been rushing towards the exit, either trying to get to class or go back to their
dormitory or the ones lining up to get breakfast. There had been other cafeteria workers who had
been stocking shelves or cleaning the tables. He said that he sat his water jug on top of the table
and put his book bag on the back of his chair. The table was closer to the cafeteria entrance doors
and closer to the cubby area. From there, he could see his colleagues, the other Resident
Assistants: K.B., Dan, Sean, and Ed scattered around the cafeteria and the cafeteria worker Gayle
who works the register.

STRICKLER acknowledged that K.B. was an R.A. in Oak Hall (which are for first-year
students/ incoming first-year students), that Sean and Ed were on the Track and Field team here
at Mansfield University and it was nice seeing them in passing as they talked about upcoming
events and classes. After conversing with the others, he walked up to “The Grill” at Lower
Manser and ordered breakfast. He was met by a friendly female cafeteria chef and ordered a
breakfast consisting of scrambled eggs, two pieces of bacon, six pieces of French toast, and one
hash brown patty. While waiting for his food to finish, he grabbed himself a cup of orange juice
from the juice dispenser and grabbed some syrup from the “Pick-up” area. The orange juice was
described as ripe, which he considered being surprising since it is usually “watered down” but
this time it was “fresher and tasted better.” That French toast sticks were his favorite breakfast
food that Lower Manser provided, so he always orders it.
COGNITIVE INTERVIEW 3

STRICKLER said that the smell of breakfast foods in the morning was the “best part of my day,”
that he could smell “bacon and eggs cooking in the air.” After receiving his food, he walked to
the register to pay for his food with his student identification card. The meal that he ordered was
equivalent to a meal swipe. While there, he was met by Gayle, who he considers to be a “kind-
hearted, likable, and pleasant person to be around.” Gayle and himself exchanged a dialogue of
the everyday script; a few words of “Good morning,” response, “How is your day going?”
response and ending with “Have a good day.”

STRICKLER returned to his table and ate all of his food, which he described his overall meal as
“pretty good. Not good, not bad; slightly above average.” once he was done, he threw his trash
away and sat in the cafeteria and waited for his next class to start.