IU employee booked for drugs

An IU employee was arrested in July by the Indiana State Police Methamphetamine Abuse Task Force on three felony drug charges at his Bloomington home, according to a statement Indiana State Police Trooper Jon Patrick gave in a Monroe County Court affidavit. \nJohn "Jack" Kenealy let police officers into his home July 29 where they found methcathinone and the means to make the drug in Kenealy's residence, according to Patrick's statement. The account detailed how Kenealy willingly showed the officers around his residence and how he made the drugs. \nIndiana State Police Detective Mark Parker said Kenealy claimed to be making the drug for personal use only.\nKenealy was then arrested and transported to the Monroe County Jail. \nAccording to Monroe County Court documents, Kenealy is charged with manufacturing a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and possession of a drug precursor. He entered a not guilty plea and his trial is slated for Dec. 7. Kenealy's bond was set at $500 with a $20,000 surety, which he posted.\nLeonard Butler, an electrician for IU, said Kenealy was a night operations supervisor at the time he was arrested. He said Kenealy was responsible for tasks like emergency maintenance on campus, addressing issues such as broken water mains or power outages.\nButler said Kenealy is still employed at IU, though he is now working on a day shift. \nAccording to the Indiana Prevention Resource center, methcathinone, also known as "cat" or "goob," is a relatively easy-to-manufacture controlled substance. It has similar effects as methamphetamine and crack cocaine, including stimulation of heart rate and respiration and a feeling of euphoria. Studies suggest it is as addictive as crack cocaine and that the addiction is as hard to break.\nThe Bloomington area has seen two fires resulting from clandestine methcathinone labs, both in 1995.\nIn January of 1995, the explosion and resulting fire of a lab killed one man, severely burned another and destroyed 11 condominium units valued at over $1 million.\nA fire in a public housing apartment in May of 1995 is alleged to have the same cause.