A note written on top of a suspicious package said, “Call the Bomb Squad,” IUPD Capt. Andy Stephenson said.
The Indiana State Police Explosive Ordinance Disposal Team checked a white, sealed U.S. Postal Service box after a custodian on break called in the package at the Student Central on Union building at about 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Stephenson said.
At around 10:30 p.m the ISP checked with an X-ray and determined the package contained books. IUPD officers then took the package into their custody.
Stephenson confirmed early Friday morning that the note was found along with books inside the package.
At about 1:40 a.m. Friday, IUPD served a warrant for a possible suspect and took this suspect into custody, according to an IUPD press release.
Stephenson said the suspect, IU student Daven Patton, was identified through IUPD’s investigation of the box’s contents, its label and video evidence. Patton has been charged with terroristic mischief, a level five felony, according to the release.
There was no alert put out by IU Notify because of the time at which the package was identified and the location of the building in an unpopulated area. IUPD officers arrived shortly after 10 p.m. and secured the front and back of the building, Stephenson said.
The postal service was called to confirm the package, but could not because it was after hours.
The officers came to secure the scene afterward.
No one was in the building at the time of the investigation and a perimeter of at least 100 yards was established on all sides of the building. More than a dozen IUPD officers and ISP officials were on the scene.
IUPD responds to a couple similar calls each semester, Stephenson said.
“You have to follow procedure,” Stephenson said. “You can never be too careful.”
Carley Lanich
