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(04/24/05 10:57pm)
A 24-year-old woman told police she was sexually assaulted late Monday night.\nAccording to police reports, the victim said the incident occurred while she was walking from along the south end of the Campus View Apartment parking lot.\nShe told police a man who was exposing his genitalia came out a shadow, grabbed her neck and attempted to pull her near the railroad tracks. The woman told police she struggled with the man and broke free.\nAccording to IUPD Lt. Jerry Minger, the subject is described as a white male, about 5"10 with short light brown hair. At the time of the incident, the man was clean shaven without glasses wearing a short sleeved shirt and cream colored shorts.\nAnyone with who might have any information regarding the incident should contact the Investigation Section of the IU Police Department at 855-4111.\nFor more, check Monday's issue of the IDS.
(04/18/05 6:42am)
Police in Delaware arrested a man Friday who left the scene of a fatal hit-and-run accident that killed IU senior Ashley Crouse early Tuesday morning.\nOriginally identified as Alberto DeJesus, Delaware officials determined his real name to be Meliton Espinosa Praxedis, 22, who police confirmed is an illegal alien from Mexico. Praxedis fled Bloomington Tuesday evening on a Greyhound bus en route to Manor Park, Del.\nA warrant was issued Thursday in the name of Alberto DeJesus, one of Praxedis' aliases, for leaving the scene of the accident at the intersection of Third and Hawthorne Streets.\nCpl. Trinidad Navarro of the New Castle Police Department in Delaware said Praxedis is currently in custody. U.S. Marshall Supervisory Deputy Jason Wojdylo, whose organization "worked around the clock" to crack the case, said specific details of Praxedis' apprehension could not be discussed because of the ongoing investigation.\n"We worked through the night and are operating on no sleep, but we continue to push on," Wojdylo said. \nPolice apprehended Praxedis at approximately 6:30 a.m. Friday in a Delaware apartment complex after matching a photo of Praxedis with an IUPD sketch. Wojdylo said Praxedis had visible facial lacerations at the time of his arrest.\n"We were happy to assist (IUPD) in tracking Praxedis down," Wojdylo said. "IUPD had all of the pieces to the puzzle and it was just a matter of sitting down and putting those pieces together."\nAccording to the probable cause affidavit, Praxedis' roommates told police he had consumed "a lot of beer" prior to Monday night's accident. IUPD Lt. Jerry Minger could not confirm that information but said it will be "very hard to prove" Praxedis had been drinking because he was not available for a Breathalyzer at the time of the accident.\nAccording to police reports, Praxedis, who was driving his friend's gray Honda station wagon, struck a red Jeep carrying Crouse, her boyfriend junior Christopher Carlson and senior Julie Greenbaum. At the time of the accident, the stoplight directing westbound traffic on Third Street was flashing yellow while northbound and southbound traffic on Hawthorne Avenue had a flashing red light. Praxedis' station wagon was traveling west on Third Street while the Jeep carrying Crouse, Carlson and Greenbaum was crossing the intersection and heading south on Hawthorne Street. Crouse was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident. Praxedis fled the scene on foot immediately after the crash, according to police reports.\nIUPD Lt. Steve Fiscus said the driver at fault could not be determined until the accident reconstruction team completed their investigation.\n"We believe speed was a huge factor," Fiscus said. "But it will be over a week before we can make an exact determination as to how this accident happened."\nThe citizenship status of Praxedis' three roommates was questionable when they were brought to the police station, Lt. Minger said. Immigration and Naturalization Service advised IUPD to release them.\nPraxedis is currently awaiting to be expedited from Delaware to Bloomington. Minger said although Praxedis is currently facing a charge of leaving the scene of an accident, a Class C felony punishable by three to eight years in prison, it is possible that he could face additional charges as more information arises in the case.\n-- Contact Staff Writer Lori Geller at lfgeller@indiana.edu.
(04/15/05 8:58pm)
Police in Delaware arrested a man who left the scene of the fatal hit and run accident Monday night that killed senior Ashley Crouse. Police were able to track the man down with the assistance of the U.S. Marshal's and the IU Police Department.\nPolice learned the suspect fled Bloomington Tuesday evening on a Greyhound bus en route to Manor Park, Del., after speaking with his roommates. \nOriginally identified by police as Alberto DeJesus, Delaware officials determined his real name to be Meliton Espinosa Praxedis, 22, who police confirmed is an illegal immigrant from Mexico.\nA warrant was issued in the name of Alberto DeJesus, one of Praxedis' many aliases, Thursday for leaving the scene of the accident at the intersection of Third and Hawthorne Streets.\nCpl. Trinidad Navarro of the New Castle Police Department in Delaware said Praxedis is currently in custody. U.S. Marshal Supervisory Deputy Jason Wojdylo, whose organization "worked around the clock" to crack the case, said specific details of Praxedis' apprehension could not be discussed because of the ongoing investigation.\n"We worked through the night and are operating on no sleep, but we continue to push on," Wojdylo said. \nThe only information Wojdylo had on the apprehension was that it took place at approximately 6:30 a.m. Friday in a Delaware apartment complex. When police arrived on the scene, they determined Praxedis was the man they were looking for, as his photo matched a sketch produced by IUPD. Wojdylo said Praxedis had visible face lacerations at the time of his arrest.\n"We were happy to assist (IUPD) in tracking Praxedis down," Wojdylo said. "IUPD had all of the pieces to the puzzle and it was just a matter of sitting down and putting those pieces together."\nAccording to police reports Praxedis, who was driving his friend's gray Honda station wagon, struck a red Jeep carrying Crouse, her boyfriend junior Christopher Carlson and senior Julie Greenbaum. At the time of the accident, the stoplight directing westbound traffic on Third Street was flashing yellow while northbound and southbound traffic on Hawthorne Ave. had a flashing red light. Praxedis fled the scene on foot immediately after the crash.\nIUPD Lt. Steve Fiscus said the driver at fault could not be determined until the accident reconstruction team completed their investigation.\n"We believe speed was a huge factor," Fiscus said. "But it will be over a week before we can make an exact determination as to how this accident happened."\nAccording to the probable cause affidavit, during an interview, Praxedis roommates told police he had consumed "a lot of beer" prior to the Monday night's accident. IUPD Lt. Jerry Minger could not confirm or deny that information, but said it will be "very hard to prove" Praxedis had been drinking.\nPraxedis is currently awaiting to be expedited from Delaware to Bloomington. Minger said although Praxedis is currently facing a charge of leaving the scene of an accident, a Class C felony punishable by three to eight years in prision, it's possible he will face additional charges as more information arises in the case.
(04/15/05 6:32am)
The IU Police Department issued a warrant for the arrest of Alberto DeJesus Thursday for fleeing the scene of a two-car accident Monday night that killed IU senior Ashley Crouse.\nDeJesus boarded a bus Tuesday en route to Manor Park, Del., police learned Wednesday night.\nDeJesus is wanted for leaving the scene of an accident, a Class C felony punishable by three to eight years in prison.\n"Currently, that's his only charge," said IUPD Lt. Jerry Minger. "That's not to say that after we find him there won't be additional charges."\nThe U.S. Marshals are assisting local law enforcement agencies in searching for more information about DeJesus by re-interviewing those who were thought to have known him. Thursday night there were five U.S. Marshals in Bloomington conducting interviews, including a Spanish-speaking Marshal seeking more information, said Supervisory Deputy Jason Wojdylo. The Marshals said they believe Alberto DeJesus is not his real name and the investigation is developing rapidly. Due to the ongoing investigation the Marshals said they could not release his real name.\n"One of the challenges that the IUPD is facing is communicating with individuals with information due to the language barrier. Many of them are non-English speaking individuals," Wojdylo said. "Our goal is to shake the information loose. At this point we believe Alberto DeJesus is a questionable name and we are going to get to the bottom of who our suspect driver really is so we can put that information out to the public. I expect we will have the information in a short time." \nAccording to police reports, DeJesus, the driver of the gray Honda station wagon, struck a red Jeep carrying Crouse, her boyfriend junior Christopher Carlson and senior Julie Greenbaum at 11:22 p.m. Monday night. At the time of the accident, the stoplight directing westbound traffic on Third Street was flashing yellow. Northbound and southbound traffic on Hawthorne Avenue had a flashing red light. \n"Until we talk to (DeJesus) we haven't reached a conclusion as to whose fault the accident was," Minger said. "He is a part of the puzzle and we'd like to speak with him before we make a determination about the accident."\nMinger said after DeJesus was identified as the driver in the accident, officers went to his Grant Street residence where three men told officers they did not know DeJesus' whereabouts.\n"We had no reason to believe the residents were lying," Minger said.\nMinger said officers learned that DeJesus was in the Grant Street residence when officers spoke to neighbors there Monday night.\nOfficers returned to DeJesus' residence Wednesday night and brought the three men in for questioning. Minger said the men were taken to the police station because their identification was in question.\n"We had a difficult time speaking with them because they spoke little or no English," said Minger, who called in Joseph Clements, director of undergraduate studies of the Department of Spanish & Portuguese, to assist police by acting as an interpreter.\nThrough Clements' interpretation, police learned DeJesus boarded a bus on Tuesday night to Delaware. \nAccording to the Greyhound bus schedule for April 12, two bus trips were scheduled to depart from Bloomington and arrive in Wilmington Manor, Del., which is a suburb of Manor Park, Del. One bus was scheduled to leave Bloomington at 6 p.m. Tuesday and arrive in Delaware at 4:40 p.m. Wednesday. Both bus trips had three transfer stops.\nAfter receiving a warrant from the Monroe County Prosecutor's office, police faxed the information on DeJesus to the New Castle County Police Department in Delaware.\n"After receiving information from the (IUPD) requesting we attempt to locate DeJesus, our officers checked on an apartment were he was believed to be," said Cpl. Trinidad Navarro of the NCPD. "We found a subject with the same last name at the residence but later determined it was not the (DeJesus)."\nNavarro said officers have been assigned to frequent that area. If caught, DeJesus will be detained in Delaware before being sent back to Indiana.\nAnyone who might have any information about DeJesus' whereabouts should immediately contact IUPD at 855-4111.\n-- Contact Staff Writer Lori Geller at lfgeller@indiana.edu.
(04/15/05 6:32am)
Two rape incidents were reported at IU in the last two weeks. \nTwo months ago, two others were reported.\nOn average, 6.5 incidents are reported at IU each year, according to IU Police Department statistics. And right now, five months into 2005, four incidents have already been reported.\n"The trend reflects an ugly truth of society that we hate to cope with," said Assistant Dean for the Office for Women's Affairs Carol McCord. "From our studies, we have noticed that there seems to be an increase in these numbers during the beginning of the school year and during the time of Little 500."\nAccording to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, the nation's largest anti-sexual assault organization, about 3 percent of college women experience a rape or attempted rape each year. For IU's 19,527 female students, from 2004 data, IU is slightly above average at 3.3 percent. \n"Statistics are alarming," said Colleen Yeakle, crisis intervention services coordinator at Middle Way House, an organization dedicated to ending violence in the lives of women and children.\nYeakle's organization has provided assistance to 22 rape victims in Bloomington since August.\nGetting help\nYeakle said if a woman thinks she has been raped, the first and most important step she should take is talk to someone.\n"Telling someone is key," she said. "That person should be a trusted individual who will provide a good support system."\nRape victims can also take advantage of the Middle Way House 24-hour crisis line, 336-0846, or the IU Sexual Assault 24-hour crisis line, 855-8900, if they feel more comfortable talking to someone trained in domestic violence. Both services are free.\nMcCord said it is important for victims to know there are people and programs on campus and in the community dedicated to providing emotional support to them. She said she encourages victims to take an evidence collection test at the IU Health Center or Bloomington Hospital if the victim is considering the possibility of taking legal action.\n"A vital part of police investigations is collecting evidence," McCord said, noting evidence-collecting procedures do not require victims to pursue legal action. "Without an exam, it is virtually impossible to take action later."\nIf victims decide to take the exam, Yeakle said it is essential they not wash, comb or clean any part of their body because "preservation of evidence is key."\nTaking action\nPaul McCarthy, president of the IU Self Defense Club, said members of the club have conducted self-defense seminars on campus, focusing on several rape defense techniques.\nMcCarthy has conducted more than 10 free seminars in the dorms. He said a lot of the rape techniques and defenses teach women how to push away from an attacker or escape a potentially dangerous situation.\n"I try to teach very simple techniques that should happen with instinct such as basic hand strikes and kicks," he said. "With training and self-discipline, anyone can be more confident in themselves and less of a target to predators."\nMcCarthy said he encourages students to observe or take part in the IU Self Defense Club, which meets from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday in the School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation 095. The first three lessons are free, and club fees are $35 per semester.\n"Self defense is a tool that helps people be more confident in terrifying situations, giving skills that could be used if the situation arises," McCarthy said.\n-- Contact Staff Writer Lori Geller at lfgeller@indiana.edu.
(04/14/05 4:14am)
Construction is ready to wrap up on Kirkwood Avenue as Chipotle Mexican Grill prepares to open its doors April 27.\nThe Mexican-fare restaurant, which boasts more than 400 locations across the United States, serves made-to-order, 20-ounce gourmet burritos and tacos in its cafeteria-style assembly line. \nCustomers can build their meal from a lineup of ingredients including chicken, steak, barbecue or free-range pork, as well as rice, beans, guacamole and an assortment of other vegetables and salsas. The restaurant also serves chips and salsa, beer and margaritas.\nIn honor of Little 500 week, Chipotle will hold an all-day fund-raiser from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. today. At the special event, customers will pay $5 for a burrito and soft drink. All of the money collected during the day will benefit the IU Student Foundation and the Little 500 race.\nSenior Aref Bajwa, marketing chairman for the Little 500 race, said he is thrilled Chipotle is coming to Bloomington while supporting the community.\n"They're trying to bridge their opening by teaming up with a student organization," Bajwa said.\nSenior Meghna Patel, an IUSF member, said the proceeds will support student scholarships and fund student-run events throughout the year.\n"This is a unique idea for Chipotle to do a fund-raiser for us," Patel said. "It's going to be a fun week. I'm sure everyone will already be out on Kirkwood, and we encourage them to stop in (Chipotle)."\nThe construction of the new Chipotle has created a two-sided buzz of students and community members talking about the opening. Some are upset about another chain restaurant opening on Kirkwood Avenue, as reported by the Indiana Daily Student Sept. 8., while others are excited.\nLocal competitors are in agreement that the restaurant will have a positive impact on the Bloomington community.\nPete Smith, owner of The Laughing Planet, a Kirkwood Avenue restaurant that serves omnivore- and vegan-friendly cuisine, said there's a lot of room for variety in Bloomington.\n"What we do at the Planet is different from Chipotle, and we think we're very good at it," Smith said. "We're more health and vegetable oriented, and of course, we're a local business."\nTony Levato, manager at La Bamba, a Mexican restaurant also on Kirkwood Avenue famous for serving "burritos as big as your head," said although Chipotle serves the same type of Mexican cuisine, he doesn't feel its arrival in Bloomington will impact his business.\n"Chipotle might slow our daytime business down a little bit, but they don't deliver and aren't open late enough to impact us a great deal," Levato said. "A lot of our business comes late at night when the bars are open."\nChipotle has a student following at IU, marked by a 280-plus-member "Chipotle Lovers" fan club on the networking Web site, http//:thefacebook.com.\n"I cant wait for this place to open," said junior Brett Rozanczyk, who lives across the street from the restaurant. "It's been loud and annoying when the construction is going on early in the morning. If it was any other place, I'd be upset. But since it's because of Chipotle, it's worth it."\nChipotle will hold another special event prior to its grand opening. From 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. April 27, the restaurant will feature a "Free Burrito Day," allowing customers to sample burritos, tacos or low-carb "burrito bols," which are burritos with no tortilla, and a soft drink, free of charge.\nChipotle, named after a smoked jalapeno pepper, was founded in 1993 by chief executive officer and professional chef Steve Ells. McDonald's Corp. currently owns 90 percent of the company.\nBeginning April 27, Chipotle will be open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.\n"I plan on being the first one in line and will be eating (Chipotle) for all three meals on Thursday," Rozanczyk said. "I think word of mouth is going to spread really heavily. I haven't talked to one person that hasn't had a great experience there."\n-- Contact Staff Writer Lori Geller at lfgeller@indiana.edu.
(04/11/05 6:55am)
A 19-year-old woman visiting a friend at IU reported being raped by four males at Foster Quad early Sunday morning. The woman reported the rape to police at 12:10 p.m. Sunday.\nAccording to a press release sent out by IU Police Department Lt. Jerry Minger, the woman said she was invited to a Foster Quad dorm room Saturday evening where she said she was raped by four men. Minger said the relationship between the woman and the alleged suspects was unknown.\nMinger said the incident is under investigation by IUPD detectives, who are currently in the process of interviewing people who might have additional information. Minger said no additional information could be released due to the pending investigation. He added that he did not know if alcohol was involved.\nThis is the fourth reported rape incident at IU this semester. In January, a female student said she was raped at the Delta Tau Delta fraternity. In February, a woman reported being drugged and raped at Assembly Hall during a basketball game but later retracted the story. Last week, a female reported a rape at McNutt Quad, which is still under investigation. The suspect in the alleged McNutt rape, who has hired an attorney, has not yet spoken with police.\nAs many as 11 rapes have been reported to police in one calendar year, Minger said. According to IUPD statistics, an average of 6.5 reported rapes have occurred at IU per year in the past nine years.\n"Recently, these crimes have been reported in such close time spans," Minger said. "With the Commission of Personal Safety and Office of Women's Affairs, we try to create a climate where victims are comfortable in reporting these crimes."\nDean of Students Richard McKaig, who had not been notified of the incident at press time, said he is worried about the rash of reported rapes on campus.\n"It's certainly something we are concerned about," McKaig said. \nMcKaig said the University has plans to address the issue of sexual assault crimes in an upcoming May program for faculty and students.\n"Each year, (the staff) discusses a different topic pertaining to the campus at large. Last year, we addressed mental health and depression," McKaig said. "(With these incidents), we felt it was important to address issues related to men-women relationships so we can see what can be done to address this problem."\nMcKaig said once a rape is reported to the University, the student must follow the same judicial process as any other student. However, because of the nature of the reported crime, he said the process is often much more time-consuming.\n"We take it very seriously but it can be a very complicated legal matter," he said. "It's almost always a situation where lawyers get involved."\nMinger said he encourages anyone who has any information pertaining to the incident to call the IUPD at 812-855-4111.\n"It's very possible the people on the floor may have heard something," Minger said. "With floor perpetrators, many times they aren't quiet about the things they do. At this point, witnesses are essential."\n-- Contact Staff Writer Lori Geller at lfgeller@indiana.edu.
(04/06/05 5:55am)
As Little 500 approaches, the IU Police Department has begun preparations for the week's traditional parties and celebrations, which often result in a spike in alcohol arrests.\nIUPD Lt. Jerry Minger said the department has had meetings throughout the year about enforcement next week.\n"We do (planning) well in advance every year," Minger said. "Looking back at the historical things we've seen in the past, we have to try to prevent them from happening in the future."\nMinger said the Little 500 riots in the Varsity Villas were a grave concern for law enforcement during the late 1970s.\n"Cars were tipped over and set on fire," Minger said. "When the fire department tried to get in, they were pelted with bottles and water balloons from balconies. That's when (police) had to go in with riot gear."\nMinger said that incident changed the way apartment complexes and off-campus businesses interact with local law enforcement.\n"Apartment complexes hire outside security to restrict people who come in and out and park there," he said. "If they call us for assistance, we are ready to respond to the complaints right away."\nMinger said the most common types of violations during the Little 500 weekend are public intoxication and illegal consumption of alcohol. However, the IUPD also deals with a rise of vandalism and assault cases during the week.\nAccording to IUPD statistics, officers made a total of 125 arrests and wrote 76 citations during the 2004 Little 500 weekend. Of those, 100 were alcohol-related offenses.\n"We have come to realize climate is a great factor in keeping people inside," he said. "The number of arrests during the entire weekend are so dependent upon the weather. If it's a rainy weekend, people will typically stay in and keep themselves out of the public eye."\nMinger said IUPD won't make any "drastic" changes in how the law is enforced this year.\n"As always, our main concern is always the safety and security of the people on campus," he said. "We encourage everyone to make responsible decisions. If (someone) 21 or older is going to go out and drink, they have to stay off the roads. All too often, that's not the case."\nMonroe County Clerk Jim Fielder said the justice building will be open April 17 for the pretrial diversion program. The program allows students who were arrested during the weekend to pay a one-time fee of $360 in exchange for keeping their record clean. After paying the fine, students can assist in road crew work around campus.\n"The program has been around for at least 25 years and is designed to accommodate the extra arrests," Fielder said. "It's a convenient thing because if people from out of town are arrested, they can get it over with in one day instead of coming back."\nFielder said he expects anywhere between 200 and 500 people to show up Sunday morning.\n"We remind students that if they are going to go out and party, they should also be ready to pick up some trash," he said.\n-- Contact Staff Writer Lori Geller at lfgeller@indiana.edu.
(04/05/05 5:48am)
An 18-year-old female student reported being assaulted and raped by a 19-year-old male Sunday in McNutt Quad. According to IU Police Department reports, officers were dispatched to Bloomington Hospital at 5:14 p.m. Sunday to speak with the victim, who told police she was assaulted and raped around 5:30 that morning by a man in McNutt Quad. \nThe woman told officers she attended a party with her friend around 10:30 p.m. Saturday at an off-campus residence. She said she and her friend had been drinking, and they went back to McNutt Quad with two men they met at the party.\nAt McNutt Quad, her friend became ill and was vomiting in the rest room. The woman told police she decided to spend the night so she could take care of her friend.\nThe woman told police she fell asleep on the top bunk and her roommate fell asleep on the bottom bunk of the McNutt Quad residence. When the woman woke up at about 5:30 a.m., one of the men was on top of her, having sexual intercourse with her. After realizing what was happening, she said she pretended to be asleep so she could roll over and get up. Once she rolled over, she told police she noticed the male's attention had diverted to a camera phone, which he was using to take pictures of her. The victim told police she yelled for him to stop several times, and once he did, she left.\nIUPD Lt. Jerry Minger said the woman completed a rape kit at the hospital. He also said IUPD detectives collected clothing and conducted preliminary interviews at that time.\n"If she decides to pursue a judicial action, it will go through the courts," Minger said. "She will have to decide what action to take."\nAccording to Indiana law, rape can be a Class A or B felony punishable by a fine of up to $10,000 and 20 to 50 years in jail.\nThe case was assigned to IUPD Detective Leslie Slone, who will interview the suspect and possible witnesses in the next few days. Because it is an active investigation, Slone could not release any further details about the case.\n"It's a criminal investigation at this point, which means talking to a lot of people and trying to collect verbal statements," Slone said.\nMinger said the incident was reported to Dean of Students Richard McKaig.\nThis is the third reported rape incident at IU this semester. In January, a female student said she was raped at the Delta Tau Delta fraternity. Last month, a woman reported being drugged and raped at Assembly Hall during a basketball game but later retracted the story.\n-- Contact Staff Writer Lori Geller at lfgeller@indiana.edu.
(03/30/05 6:07am)
IU senior Margo Ain frequents the bars during the weekend, often using her debit card to pay for drinks. Ain, who spends an average of $15 on a night out, was surprised when her monthly debit card statement didn't reflect her usual spending habits.\n"There was a big charge for a flight in England and other random things totaling about $2,000," Ain said. "There were also a lot of overdraw fees from my checking account."\nThat's when Ain realized she became the victim of fraud -- a problem that isn't uncommon for some IU students. Since Jan. 13, 21 students have reported similar fraud instances to the IU Police Department, police statistics indicate.\nIUPD Lt. Jerry Minger said fraud can occur in a number of ways, including stealing cards from a wallet or purse, applying for a credit card application using another person's account number or finding the credit card number from someone else's old receipt.\n"Probably the most common now and ever increasing way of being frauded has been instances where a credit, debit card or account number attached to a financial institution has been compromised," Minger said.\nMinger said once someone reports fraud, the case goes directly to IUPD detectives, who notify the credit institution and also the mall.\n"That way, with just one phone call we can hit a multiplicity of stores and mall security because that's the first place people think to go," he said. "We have nabbed the thief at the mall several times."\nFreshman Nick Drumm, a Maryland resident, dropped his IU Credit Union debit card when he was home during winter break. After receiving a call from his bank about questionable gasoline charges on his account, Drumm was instructed to contact his bank and police immediately.\n"(The bank) cancelled my card but it took a while because I had to file a police report and a report with my primary bank at IU," Drumm said. "But I couldn't do anything until I got back to school."\nDrumm said although the charges were fairly low, he incurred an additional $25 charge because he didn't have enough money in his account to cover the gasoline charges. After he was eventually reimbursed for the charges several weeks later, Drumm declined to apply for another debit card.\n"To me, it wasn't worth the risk of it happening again," he said. "I dedicated a huge amount of time to running back and forth from the bank to the police station. For such a small amount of money, it was way more than I thought I'd have to do."\nAccording to the Federal Trade Commission Web site, credit card fraud costs millions of dollars each year for cardholders and issuers.\nTo protect against credit card fraud, the FTC suggests consumers take some precautionary steps, which include signing a card when it arrives, carrying cards separately from a wallet, keeping a detailed record of important account information, saving receipts and reporting questionable charges.\nMinger said it is essential for someone to notify the police or credit card company immediately if they suspect their account has been compromised. Often, he said, the company will put an alert or freeze on a card holder's account. He also recommends students use "common sense practices" with their accounts.\nAlthough Ain's bank covered the overdraw fees that resulted from the fraud, she was forced to wait several weeks for a new card. \n"It took a while until everything went back to normal because (the bank) froze my whole account," she said. "I had to use my parents' credit card until I got a new card."\n-- Contact Staff Writer Lori Geller at lfgeller@indiana.edu.
(03/11/05 6:07am)
A 19-year-old IU student will face false reporting charges after she admitted to fabricating a story she told police about being drugged and raped in an Assembly Hall restroom during the IU-Purdue basketball game.\nAccording to officials at the Monroe County Circuit Court, freshman Mary Bray will appear in court for sentencing at 1 p.m. April 15. Under Indiana law, false reporting of crimes is a Class D felony, which carries a penalty of a fine up to $10,000 and six months to three years in jail.\nIU Police Department reports indicate Bray was taken to the Bloomington Hospital by ambulance during the Feb. 22 men's basketball game after receiving a citation for illegal possession of alcohol and public intoxication. IUPD Lt. Jerry Minger said officers at the scene noted Bray smelled like alcohol, had vomit all over her clothing and was staggering.\nAt the hospital, Bray told an emergency room nurse she was drugged and raped in the women's restroom near the C section of Assembly Hall.\nAfter speaking with several detectives and spectators who claim they saw Bray at the game, Minger said police immediately questioned her story.\n"The timeline of events didn't seem to match up," he said. "After reviewing the case and conducting those interviews, we realized it was impossible for (the rape) to have happened."\nWhen police confronted Bray with the information during her second interview, Minger said she recanted her story.\nAlthough she didn't tell police why she falsified the rape story, Minger said he suspects she might have been trying to avoid an alcohol ticket.\n"One assumption we had to make was it was due to her state of inebriation or the possibility she was trying to divert attention from her alcohol charge," Minger said. "There's no other reason she's given us so far."\nMinger said Bray caused a "great deal of concern" around campus.\n"A lot of people that attend these types of events were fearful," he said. "We obviously had to work under the assumption there was an actual sexual assault."\nFollowing the IU-Purdue game, Minger said security was increased by having officers make extra routine checks at restrooms and places "out of spectator sight" at the next home basketball game on Feb. 27.\nMinger said after Bray admitted to fabricating the story, it was suggested she speak with a counselor.\n"We feel anyone who would do something like this needs some kind of counseling," Minger said. "This is a very irresponsible thing to do."\nDean of Students Richard McKaig could not be reached for comment by press time on possible University sanctions.\n-- Contact Staff Writer Lori Geller at lfgeller@indiana.edu.
(03/07/05 4:29am)
A 20-year-old student reported being fondled by a man in Read Center early Friday morning, \nAccording to police reports, officers were dispatched to Read after the woman told police that around 7:15 a.m., she was approached by a man as she walked near a third floor elevator at Read. She said the man dropped his pants, pushed her up against the wall and began fondling her "all over her body." She said she pushed the man off of her and he ran into the Read-Curry wing of Read Center.\nIUPD Lt. Jerry Minger said the woman was not injured during the incident, but was very fearful for her safety.\nPolice describe the suspect as between 18-22 and approximately 5'10" tall with light brown hair, khaki pants and a striped polo shirt. \nMinger said the incident is under investigation and he encourages anyone who might have any information to contact the Investigation Section of the IUPD at 855-4111.\nMinger said its hard to say how often these types of incidents occur. However, he said this particular incident was unusual given the time, place and manner in which it occurred.\n"Normally, these types of incidents happen during some kind of social event," he said. "To happen at this time in the morning on a floor in a residence hall is extremely unusual."\nMinger said as part of the investigation, police are increasing patrol at Read Center by making extra stops and walk-throughs in and around the residence hall. \n"Because the suspect did not have a coat on and his shirt was noticeable, it's likely he didn't come from outside the building," Minger said. "He might have lived there or was visiting there and we are considering it an isolated incident."\nJeremy Jordan, assistant residential manager at Read Center would not comment on the incident. He referred all questions to Director of Residential Programs and Services Bob Weith, who is out of town until next week.\nAccording to Indiana law, fondling falls under public indecency and is considered a Class A misdemeanor. The crime carries a jail sentence of no more than a year in addition to up to $5,000 in fines. Indecent exposure is a Class C misdemeanor and carries a fine of up to $500 and 60 days in jail.\n-- Contact Staff Writer Lori Geller at lfgeller@indiana.edu.
(03/04/05 6:43pm)
An 18-year-old female student reported that she was raped in an Assembly Hall bathroom during the IU-Purdue basketball game Tuesday. \nAccording to IU Police Department reports, the woman was found unconscious in the women's restroom on the west side near section C of Assembly Hall.\nIUPD Lt. Jerry Minger said she was brought to the first-aid room about 8:40 p.m., with vomit on her clothing. Police noted she had bloodshot eyes, smelled like alcohol and couldn't walk straight. The first-aid room nurse recommended she be taken to Bloomington Hospital by ambulance. Police reports indicate that at about 11:15 p.m., the woman told an emergency room nurse that a man drugged and raped her in the restroom.\nAccording to police reports, the woman spoke with IUPD Det. Leslie Slone at the hospital, where the victim said a "tall, skinny black male of college age wearing a black T-shirt and jeans" came into the bathroom stall she was using and hit her in the left upper arm and the head several times. The woman said she was dizzy and blacked out after being hit in the head.\nBloomington Hospital Media and Community Relations Manager Jonna Risher said when a patient reports rape, that person has the option of filing a report and taking an evidence collection test. However, the test is not required.\n"We always support (the patient) and encourage them to report it," Risher said. "We always offer medical care and evidence collection to the patient with their consent. It's up to the patient."\nMinger said he suspects the victim took an evidence collection test. Bloomington Hospital could not confirm or deny this information.\nRisher said the woman's identity or condition could not be released without her consent.\nMinger did not have any information on the woman's health. He said the case is under investigation, and IUPD detectives will continue to interview her.\n"In every sexual assault case, after an incident, detectives re-interview witnesses and victims," he said. "(In this case) we will try to confirm some of the inconsistencies in her story."\nMinger said several details in the case conflicted, but he could not discuss specifics in an ongoing investigation.\n"It could be that her recollection of what happened was a little bit off," he said. \nAccording to Indiana law, rape is a Class A felony punishable by a fine of up to $10,000 and 20 to 50 years in jail. False reporting of crimes is considered a Class D felony. The crime carries a penalty of a fine up to $10,000 and six months to three years in jail.\nMinger said the woman was charged with illegal consumption of alcohol and public intoxication.\n"Unless someone forced her to consume alcohol, we have to follow the law because she is 18," Minger said. "As far as we know, she consumed it on her own free will."\nHowever, Minger said she won't be charged with using illegal drugs if she was drugged by the alleged suspect.\nMinger said a rape has never been reported during an athletic event. The most recent reported incident of rape occurred Jan. 14 when an 18-year-old student told police that she had been raped at the Delta Tau Delta fraternity.\nAssistant Athletics Director Kit Klingelhoffer said he was "totally unaware" of the alleged rape incident. He said an outside security company patrols the basketball games in addition to the IUPD.\nIn a statement, IUPD Capt. Keith Cash said in response to the incident, IUPD will conduct extra patrols during athletic events, particularly around restrooms at athletic facilities.\nMinger said IUPD is asking witnesses to come forward. He said the police department is asking anyone who might have seen something unusual or has any information pertaining to the incident to call the IUPD investigations department at 855-4111.\n-- Contact Staff Writer Lori Geller at lfgeller@indiana.edu.
(03/02/05 6:46am)
An 18-year-old student who reported being raped in an Assembly Hall restroom last week during the IU-Purdue basketball game admitted to fabricating the story to authorities, according to the IU Police Department.\nIUPD Lt. Jerry Minger said Dets. Steve Fiscus and Leslie Slone interviewed the woman for a second time Tuesday afternoon. After being confronted with several inconsistencies, the woman recanted the story she told police and Bloomington Hospital employees on Feb. 22.\n"From what I heard, she was not emotional about the confession," Minger said. "She didn't seem distraught in any way."\nMinger said the woman was advised that false reporting charges would be filed against her, and she will be summoned to appear in court.\nAccording to Indiana law, false reporting of crimes is considered a Class D felony and carries a penalty of a fine up to $10,000 and six months to three years in jail.\nAccording to police reports, the woman was found unconscious in a women's restroom in Assembly Hall on Feb. 22. Police reports indicate she had bloodshot eyes, smelled like alcohol and was staggering. She was taken to the first-aid station where a nurse recommended she be taken to the emergency room. She was given a ticket for public intoxication and illegal consumption of alcohol.\nAt about 11:55 p.m., Bloomington Hospital employees notified police that the woman told a nurse that she was drugged and raped in a bathroom at Assembly Hall. \nAfter her initial interview, Minger said police began to question her story.\nMinger said IUPD received numerous calls from spectators who were sitting near the woman at the basketball game. After interviewing them, in addition to staffers who worked in the lobby and around the seats at the game, detectives formulated a timeline of events.\n"The timeline just seemed off," Minger said. "Between these various accounts of people who spotted her, we realized that it was virtually impossible for this incident to have occurred."\nMinger said this is not the first time someone has falsified a rape story.\nIn October 2003, a student told authorities she was raped while walking on campus near Ballantine Hall. She later admitted to fabricating the story.\nAlthough the woman did not say why she falsified the Assembly Hall rape story, Minger said he suspects she might have been trying to avoid an alcohol charge.\n"Maybe she thought that by telling us she was a victim of sexual assault, she wouldn't be cited for alcohol," Minger said. "At this point, the only thing we know for sure is that the story was made up."\n-- Contact Staff Writer Lori Geller at lfgeller@indiana.edu.
(02/17/05 5:50am)
After returning from class last week, senior Mike Ziulkowski went to get his Jeep Wrangler from the Willkie North back parking lot so he could pick up his girlfriend from class. But Ziulkowski was surprised to find his window unzipped on the passenger side. \n"I thought the wind might have blown it off because some snow had gotten in my car," he said. "But I walked around to the back of the car and saw the back window was all the way open."\nZiulkowski found more than $1,500 worth of items -- including his speakers, amplifier, loafers and stereo system -- were stolen.\nAccording to police reports, there have been about 34 instances of vehicle vandalism or larceny in various on-campus parking lots, garages and greek house lots since Jan. 1.\nAfter filing a police report with the IU Police Department, officers uncovered a hammer from Ziulkowski's Jeep, which they believe was used to loosen various pieces of equipment from the car.\n"They are going to use the prints on the hammer to try to catch the people who did this," said Ziulkowski, who had to pay a $500 insurance deductible to cover the damage to his car.\nIUPD Lt. Jerry Minger said it's difficult to estimate if there has been an increase in vehicle vandalism and larceny incidents.\n"Statistics indicate that the incidents haven't been concentrated in just one lot," Minger said. "They are random across campus."\nMinger advises victims to contact the IUPD as soon as they notice their vehicle has been vandalized or broken into. He said victims should not touch or move their vehicle until officers finish investigating.\n"In a case like (Ziulkowski's), where officers confiscated a hammer from the vehicle, we know right away that it was brought from outside into a crime scene," Minger said. "We process and fingerprint the evidence, bag it and check it into evidence."\nMinger said IUPD officers "rarely" catch the perpetrators because the incidents are similar to hit-and-run crimes. However, he said if the crimes continue to concentrate in specific locations, IUPD will often increase the patrol around the area.\n"Sometimes it's hard because when you've only got three or four uniform people patrolling the entire campus, it's very hard to be in every place at once," Minger said. "It's expensive and time consuming to bring in more officers and without the proper funding, its nearly impossible."\nZiulkowski, a floor president at Willkie, said he is trying to gain support to pass a bill which will allow funding for security cameras in the Willkie parking lot.\n"Security cameras are necessary here and in every other parking lot on campus," Ziulkowski said.\nMinger said IUPD does not have proper funding to install security cameras in on-campus parking lots.\n"We would love to have the extra surveillance, but our budget has been cut so severely over the years that it's not a service we can supply," he said. "If Willkie wanted to do something like that, I commend them for taking extra steps to create an additional layer of security."\nZiulkowski, who won't be able to get the large hole in the soft top of his Jeep fixed until spring break, said he still parks at Willkie because of convenience.\n"I can't not drive to school because I'm scared to," Ziulkowski said. "I just don't understand why somebody would do this to me or to anyone else."\n-- Contact Staff Writer Lori Geller at lfgeller@indiana.edu.
(02/11/05 6:03am)
The parents of former student Jeffrey Maiatico, 20, who was killed in an October 2003 drag racing crash, have filed several lawsuits seeking justice for damages inflicted upon them following their son's death.\nOn Oct. 31, 2003, juniors Jeffrey Maiatico, Daipayan Banerjee and Patrick McBride engaged in a high-speed car chase after leaving Axis nightclub visibly intoxicated, according to the lawsuit. Both drivers lost control of their vehicles at the same time. Banerjee's car became airborne and struck a tree, killing Maiatico, according to police reports. Banerjee suffered minor injuries and McBride was unharmed.\nAfter enduring almost two years of psychological counseling, Marc and Anita Maiatico filed complaints against Banerjee and McBride, Axis nightclub and Liberty Mutual Fire Insurance last week. The complaint said Banerjee and McBride failed to maintain proper control of the vehicles they operated while intoxicated along Indiana Highway 46, near Moores Pike.\n"As a direct and proximate result of Daipayan Banerjee's and Patrick McBride's recklessness and negligence, Jeffrey Maiatico died," according to the complaint. "Daipayan Banerjee's and Patrick McBride's conduct was reckless, willful and wanton with conscious disregard for probable injury."\nThe Maiatico's also filed a complaint against their insurance provider, Liberty Mutual Fire Insurance, claiming they should receive compensatory damages for their son's death based on their insurance policy, which is intended to cover "under-insured motorist bodily injuries."\nAxis nightclub was also named in the lawsuit for serving alcohol to the three minors and continuing to serve them while they were "visibly intoxicated."\nAxis nightclub Owner Dave Kubiac said he purchased the club in the summer of 2004 and directed comments regarding the lawsuit to former owner Dave Ross.\nRoss, who currently manages The Vogue nightclub in Indianapolis, could not be reached for comment.\nBanerjee, Maiatico's former roommate in the University Commons, said he was unfamiliar with the lawsuit and would not answer any further questions.\n"I don't know anything about any lawsuit," said Banerjee, who is back at IU after two semesters of recovery following the incident.\nBanerjee and McBride pled not guilty to charges of felony criminal recklessness in August. Both sentences were reduced to misdemeanors and Banerjee and McBride were given probation in addition to the temporary suspension of their drivers' licenses.\nJeffery Maiatico was a junior from Haddonfield, N.J. studying business and was also a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity.\nFollowing his death, Maiatico's family established a scholarship in his honor at his former high school. The Kelley School of Business also set up a Jeffery Maiatico Volunteer of the Month Award through the Civic Leadership development program. The award will provide a plaque and gift certificate to promising business students each month for their accomplishments.\n-- Contact Staff Writer Lori Geller at lfgeller@indiana.edu.
(02/07/05 5:34am)
In the next few weeks, IU Police Department officers will participate in Operation Pullover, a statewide outreach campaign to highlight the importance of wearing seatbelts. The campaign is running in conjunction with the passing of a new booster seat law.\nThe new law, which will take effect in July, will require all children 8 years old or younger to ride in a booster seat. In addition, anyone 16 years or younger must be restrained by a safety belt regardless of where they are sitting in the vehicle.\nViolators of the new law will pay a $25 fine for committing a Class D infraction. Money collected from the fines will go toward a state fund that will distribute child restraint systems to those who can't afford them.\nIUPD Operation Pullover Coordinator Lt. Tom Lee said that in addition to educating drivers about the upcoming law, IUPD officers will be out in the community issuing citations under Indiana's current seatbelt laws.\nLee said in a statement that IUPD hopes this emphasis will cause people to be prepared for the important changes that will take place this summer.\nUnder Indiana's existing laws, all front seat passengers must wear a safety belt at all times. If they violate the law, they could face a $25 fine.\nIUPD Lt. Jerry Minger said checkpoints will be set up on and around campus through Feb. 19 to make sure drivers and passengers are following the seatbelt laws.\n"Sometimes people need a ticket as a reminder to pay attention," Minger said. "It's unfortunate we have to ticket, but sometimes there's no other way."\nAccording to IUPD statistics, 222 of the 1,038 citations issued for moving violations in 2004 were for seatbelt violations.\n"When we stop people for not having restraints, we are hoping they will become more conscious and take part in these new provisions," Minger said. "We have tried to approach checkpoints from an educational perspective."\nAccording to The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, motor vehicle crashes were the leading cause of death for 2-year-olds and people between the ages of 4 and 33 in 2001 in the United States. \n"I think (wearing a seatbelt) gets portrayed in such a negative light because one of the things people immediately think of is 'I'm only driving a few blocks,' but historically the overwhelming majority of accidents occur within five blocks of residence," Minger said.\nA second reason people neglect to wear their seatbelt is the belief that they are a safe driver, Minger said.\n"They may be the best driver in the world, but that doesn't mean every driver on the street is a good driver," he said. "Accidents happen. Vehicles overturn all the time. No matter how safe you are, a seatbelt ultimately protects you."\nFor more information on Indiana's current or upcoming seatbelt laws, visit www.preventinjury.org. \n-- Contact Staff Writer Lori Geller at lfgeller@indiana.edu.
(02/04/05 6:15am)
IU Foundation employees were advised to change their computer passwords and to contact their banks because a computer hacker might have accessed their personal information Friday.\nIU Police Department Lt. Jerry Minger said an initial report was made Jan. 28 by an IU Foundation employee who suspected someone hacked into the computer system.\nIU Foundation spokeswoman Barbara Coffman said a system administrator first realized something looked "unusual" on the network.\n"He literally pulled the plug on all of the servers," Coffman said. "We looked around a little bit more and filed a police report right away."\nCoffman said one of the servers contained personal information for all IU employees. \n"We don't know whether anyone accessed it," she said. "But we suspect the intruder was on the system for a very short time. We believe the intruder was looking for space to store files rather than accessing information."\nCoffman said after shutting down computer systems, all employees were notified of the situation and were advised to change their passwords and consult their banks because of the possibility of someone obtaining access to payroll information.\n"Each employee is making an individual decision about how to proceed from here," Coffman said. \nThe Federal Bureau of Investigations was contacted following the incident, Coffman said.\n"We don't know where the intruder is from," she said. "It's possible that this is someone in another state. Right now we are doing what the FBI is telling us to do so they can do what they need to do."\n"I know (University Information Technology Services) is constantly trying to keep updated with the best firewalls and anti-virus protections," said IUPD Detective Greg McClure, who is also investigating the case. "They constantly scan the systems to make sure nothing is there that isn't supposed to be."\nComputer hacking is a Class D felony and a violation of state and federal laws.\nAccording to Indiana law, "A person who knowingly or intentionally alters or damages a computer program or data ... without the consent of a computer owner commits computer tampering." \n-- Contact Staff Writer Lori Geller at lfgeller@indiana.edu.
(01/31/05 5:50am)
The suspect involved in a string of "peeping tom" incidents in the women's locker room at the Health, Physical Education and Recreation entered a plea of not guilty to charges of voyeurism, a Class B misdemeanor, and trespass, a Class A misdemeanor.\nJohn Wesley Graves, 23, appeared in front of Judge Kenneth Todd at the Monroe County Circuit Court Friday afternoon. After sifting through a stack of papers explaining the charges filed against him, Graves stated he understood his rights and accusations.\nGraves will remain in jail until his bail hearing on Feb. 2. His pretrial conference is scheduled for 10 a.m. March 21 in Judge Mark Kellams' courtroom.\nAccording to IU Police reports, a probable-cause affidavit was filed Jan. 21 against Graves and a warrant for his arrest was issued after an elementary school girl identified him in a photo lineup as the man who had been spying on her after a swim meet in a stall of the HPER bathroom.\nThe incident is one of three that have been reported to the IUPD since Jan. 7, IUPD Lt. Jerry Minger said.\nBecause police did not have a permanent address for Graves and couldn't track him down, they were unable to make an arrest. However, Graves' stepfather, Mike Fuller, a local bail bondsman, turned him in to the Monroe County Jail Thursday morning.\n"Basically, he had been living on the street off and on for several years and it was pretty likely he'd be very difficult to find," Fuller told the Indiana Daily Student Friday. "And so when I found out (about the warrant for his arrest), I thought it'd be best for me to take him in for free."\nGraves' criminal record includes prior arrests for battery, theft, battery with a deadly weapon, sexual misconduct with a minor, domestic battery and rape.\nAccording to Indiana law, a Class A misdemeanor carries a jail sentence of no more than a year in addition to up to $5,000 in fines. If convicted for a Class B misdemeanor, Graves could face up to 180 days in jail and a fine of as much as $1,000.\n-- Contact Staff Writer Lori Geller at lfgeller@indiana.edu,.
(01/31/05 4:29am)
An IU janitor who pleaded guilty to a string of thefts at the School of Music was sentenced to one year in jail and two years of home detention Friday. He was ordered to pay the School of Music $1,600 for a stolen projector that wasn't returned and might face a $50,000 fine for the cost of changing building locks.\nKayliff Marvin Bradlee Bennett, 27, was arrested on a Class D felony charge in May after being suspected of stealing several items from the music school throughout the 2004 school year. In October 2003, he fabricated a story to police, providing them with a sketch of a man he said attempted to break in to the music school.\nSchool of Music Dean Gwyn Richards said he testified Thursday because he and other employees felt it was important for the court to know what Bennett had done.\n"We wanted to let them know how long it lasted, what it had done to the environment and how much of a concern the thefts were to everybody," Richards said.\nRichards said the thefts created a negative atmosphere in the music school.\n"If property is being taken against your will, you begin to question your personal safety," he said. "That was a concern for students and employees. It was an uneasy environment because you never knew when the next (theft) was going to occur and from where. There was a general feeling of anxiousness."\nAlthough he was unsure if the thefts affected the number of incoming music school students, Richards said many members of the staff were asked by parents about their children's safety. \nSenior Seggie Isho, a music school student, said during the period of theft, he noticed many students were hesitant to keep their instruments at the music school.\n"Some people play irreplaceable instruments that have been passed down to them by their family," said Isho, who kept his trumpet at home last year. "I think a lot of people were nervous because the string instruments kept on getting stolen."\nIU Police Department Lt. Jerry Minger said during the time of the thefts, extra security measures were taken in and around the music school, which is how Bennett was caught.\n"In conjunction with the investigation, detectives set up a closed-circuit TV in response to the thefts," Minger said. "We also advised all officers to make extra patrol stops around the music facilities."\nSchool of Music employees are currently working with the IU Police Department to create a complete list of stolen items before the resolution hearing. So far, Richards said, a $1,600 projector, various electronic equipment and a student's $25,000 violin and bow are among the stolen items.\nAfter Judge E. Michael Hoff sentenced Bennett, Prosecuting Attorney Lynda Robison asked that Bennett pay an additional $50,000 to the School of Music for the cost of rekeying buildings, which still isn't complete.\nThe topic will be brought back up during the resolution hearing at 9 a.m. on March 4.\n-- Contact Staff Writer Lori Geller at lfgeller@indiana.edu.
