IUPD responds to Showalter fish vandalism, arrest student

Continuing a tradition that often occurs during times of IU revelry, a Showalter Fountain fish was broken early Tuesday after a student rocked back and forth on its back.

Jeffery Pearce, 22, was arrested after an Indiana University Police Department security officer reported seeing him break the fish, IUPD Chief Keith Cash said.

The officer had been one of many civilian security officers asked to pay close attention to the spot, Cash said, due to the number of times students have damaged or stolen fish in the fountain.

In 1976 and 1987, fish were stolen after the men’s basketball team won in the NCAA championships. Two fish went missing the night Coach Bobby Knight was fired in 2000.

A fish was also stolen in August 2010. Later that year, the fish was further damaged during the Nearly Naked Mile.

The fountain underwent a $50,000 makeover in May 2011, and, as a precaution, the fish were temporarily removed from the fountain this past March prior to IU’s rematch with Kentucky in the Sweet 16.

At 3:30 a.m. Tuesday, the fish were all back in place when the security officer called IUPD to report that about 100 people were celebrating in the water. Pearce was allegedly sitting on top of one of the fish, rocking back and forth until it was knocked off its base.

Pearce was arrested and is facing a preliminary charge of criminal mischief, a class D felony.

Cash said it is not yet known whether the fish will have to be replaced or just repaired. Repairs will cost about $7,000, he said, while a replacement could cost as much as $20,000.

“It was an expensive night on the town,” Cash said.

— Jake New