Student arrested on cocaine charge

Officers arrested junior Nitin Patel, 20, Monday on preliminary charges of dealing cocaine, maintaining a common nuisance and possession of paraphernalia, said IU Police Department Lt. Jerry Minger.\nThis marks the third cocaine arrest this month. Two Bloomington residents were arrested April 9 by the IU Police Department for the sale of crack cocaine. \nMinger said the case was initiated during the beginning of February, but there is no address for the initial buy.\n"It appears (officers) were buying powder cocaine from the subject," Minger said. "There were several other buys set up, and then they sent the (cocaine) to the lab and obtained a warrant."\nMinger said the arrest was made when Patel pulled in to the Dunnhill Apartments at 6 p.m.\n"As he was exiting (his car), Officer Hannum approached him and identified himself as a police officer," Minger said. "He placed him under arrest for two counts of dealing cocaine -- a class A felony -- and one count of maintaining a common nuisance -- a class D felony."\nMinger said the subject also had an object with residue that appeared to be used for smoking marijuana. \nDean of Students Richard McKaig said if a student is arrested by IUPD for certain criminal charges, it is considered campus-related.\n"We will definitely be receiving some information about the arrest," McKaig said. "Selling of drugs is a violation of the (Student) Code (of Rights, Responsibilities and Conduct), and so it's quite likely the University would need to review that, and it's quite likely some type of judicial process would proceed. Clearly it would be an issue of concern to the University."\nSection III, Part C of the IU Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities and Conduct outlines the actions the University can take when student misconduct occurs outside of the University campus.\nThe code states: "The University may discipline a student for acts of personal misconduct that are not committed on University property if the acts arise from University activities that are being conducted off the University campus, or if the misconduct undermines the security of the University community or the integrity of the educational process."\nMcKaig said it might take some time before the information or any University hearing takes place.\n"Especially when criminal charges are pending with the prosecutor, it is often the case that there is some delay in the University having access to any information," McKaig said. "It could be some time before the University is able to make that consideration, but certainly, (the University) is likely to proceed when it could."\n-- Contact staff writer Mallory Simon at mgsimon@indiana.edu.