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(10/26/07 8:08pm)
An IU student was arrested early Friday morning after he allegedly got into a fight in the Arboretum.\nWilliam T. French, 18, faces preliminary charges of battery, resisting law enforcement, public intoxication and illegal consumption.\nThe IU Police Department was dispatched to the Arboretum at about 2:20 a.m. Friday in response to a victim stating he had been assaulted by two white males, IUPD Capt. Jerry Minger said, reading from a police report.\nIUPD Officer Brian Oliger arrived at the scene in his squad car, when the victim pointed to French and another suspect, who were both walking north toward 10th Street and Fee Lane, Minger said. When Oliger approached the two suspects, they began to run, according to the police report. French, who ran west, was chased and tackled by Oliger.\nWhile talking to Oliger, French smelled of alcohol, had blood shot eyes and slurred speech, according to the police report. He tested above a 0.20 in an alcohol test, Minger said.\nFrench told Oliger that he was walking with his friend when the victim began taunting him, Minger said. The victim told Oliger that one of the suspects was taunting him repeatedly. After the suspects continued with the threats, the victim was tackled and struck in the head, Minger said.\nThe victim sustained small cuts to his head and lip and received a swollen right eye. He was treated at the Bloomington Hospital, Minger said.\nOfficers were unable to locate the second suspect and are investigating the matter further.
(10/26/07 7:03pm)
A Bloomington Police Department officer was struck by another vehicle Thursday afternoon while escorting the Dalai Lama.\nOfficer Dana Cole was struck at about 3:30 p.m. Thursday on Sare Road when another vehicle attempted to make a U-turn, BPD Sgt. Jeff Canada said, reading from a police report.\nA 66-year-old woman was traveling north on Sare Road when traffic had stopped. She told officers she thought there was an accident at the intersection and made a u-turn, Canada said. While turning around, Cole struck her vehicle. She was not cited for the accident, Canada said.
(10/25/07 2:15am)
A Bloomington man was arrested Tuesday afternoon after police say he was stealing items from an ambulance.\nJeffrey S. Nielsen, 43, faces two preliminary counts of theft and trespassing. \nThe Bloomington Police Department was dispatched to the ambulance center at Bloomington Hospital in response to a report of an emergency medical technician detaining Nielsen, BPD Sgt. Jeff Canada said, reading from a police report. The EMT told BPD Sgt. Mick Williams that he discovered Nielsen rummaging through medical bags, Canada said.\nNielsen told Williams that he was looking for blankets in the ambulance, Canada said. \nA bottle of nitroglycerine tablets was missing, according to the report.\nWhen hospital security officers arrived, they told Williams that Nielsen had also gone to Bloomington Convalescent Center for a smoking cessation class he had not enrolled in earlier that day, Canada said. \nSecurity officers told Williams that Nielsen stole nicotine patches, nicotine lozenges and two cans of V8 juice while at the class, Canada said.\nNielsen was arrested and transported to the Monroe County Jail.
(10/24/07 7:21pm)
Police arrested two Bloomington residents early Tuesday morning on suspicion of impersonating an IU Police Department officer.\nKyle J. Coppinger, 22, and Christopher D. Marshall, 21, each face two preliminary counts of impersonating a police officer and confinement.\nAt about 1:35 a.m. Tuesday, a 21-year-old woman was trying to park her car at her apartment complex when she put her hazard lights on and called her boyfriend to help her parallel park, Bloomington Police Department Sgt. Jeff Canada said, reading from a police report.\nWhile she was sitting in her car, a red Dodge Intrepid pulled up behind her and Coppinger approached her car, according to the police report. Coppinger produced an IUPD business card and asked the victim for her license and registration. While Coppinger went back to his vehicle, the victim called her boyfriend and told him to come outside, Canada said.\nMarshall approached her vehicle after Coppinger came back with her identification. Coppinger began beating on the victim’s window and asked her if she wanted a parking ticket, Canada said. The victim called 911 as her boyfriend approached the two suspects. Coppinger threw the identification cards at the victim’s boyfriend and left the scene, according to the police report.\nLater, at about 3 a.m., a 23-year-old male was pulling into his apartment complex in the 1600 block of East Hillside Drive and noticed a red Dodge Intrepid pulling up behind him. Coppinger identified himself to the victim as an IUPD officer, according to the report. The victim repeatedly asked why Coppinger was pulling him over. Coppinger and the victim were having a heated debate when a neighbor came out to help the victim, Canada said. Coppinger and Marshall then proceeded to drive away, he said.\nBPD Officer Brad Seifers believed Coppinger and Marshall were targeting college students and drove to downtown bars to see if he could spot the Red Dodge Intrepid. While patrolling on Fourth and Dunn streets, Seifers noticed the vehicle and began following it, Canada said. Coppinger pulled the vehicle into a parking spot on Fourth and Dunn streets and shut off the lights, Canada said. Seifers called for a back-up officer to perform a high-risk traffic stop.\nBoth of the victims were called to the scene to identify the suspects after Seifers pulled them over, Canada said. Both victims positively identified both Coppinger and Marshall, Canada said.\nCanada said an officer should always have his badge on him and an identification card. He also said if an officer were to pull someone over, it would be by visual means, flashing police car lights, not by physically approaching a car.
(10/24/07 3:24am)
After trekking across town in the pouring rain, I made it to the Bloomington Police Department with water-soaked sweatpants and a half broken umbrella. I changed my clothes and greeted Officer Paul Post, Officer Monica Zahasky and IU Police Department Sgt. Leslie Slone in the training room.\nOur last Rape Aggression Defense class was about to begin.\nWe warmed up for about 45 minutes. I got Slone again, and once again, she scared the crap out of me. I was literally out of breath before we finished warming up. What kind of warm up is it if you can’t feel your limbs when you’re done? Psh.\nAfter warming up, we geared up for the big fight. Post and five other RAD instructors put on full body pads to protect themselves from our kicks and punches. We applied red knee and elbow pads, gloves and a helmet. Each pad was heavy and kept weighing down my pants. The gloves made it impossible to pick my wedgie.\nWe lined up on the right side of the training room while three “attackers” awaited us in the middle of the floor. Slone was on the left side of the room, video-taping the scenarios, while Zahasky was coaching us from the right side.\nOur first task was to pace back and forth while safely protecting ourselves from the three attackers. I just kept thinking to myself, “Kick him in the groin!” \nI didn’t actually kick him where the sun doesn’t shine.\nOur second scenario dealt with being attacked from behind. I was thrown to the floor and, for a second, I didn’t know how to respond. I used some elbow strikes, hand strikes, kicks and finally escaped.\nOur third and final scenario had each of the students “blind”– we were told to keep our eyes closed until we were grabbed. As soon as an attacker grabbed me I opened my eyes, began swinging and kept an eye out for an escape. I applied a few punches and kicks and was able to slide out the door.\nI took the gloves off and picked my wedgie.\nAfter we removed our pads and wiped them down (they made us work our butts off in heavy gear and then they made us clean them!), we pulled up chairs and had a discussion about the last four weeks.\nI told them I felt more confident about protecting myself, but I had serious doubts because I thought I was a pansy. Slone stopped me in my speech right there. She told me to not think of myself as a pansy.\n“As you think is as you’ll do,” she said.\nAfter our discussion, we re-watched our scenarios on tape. Aside from completely laughing at one another, we got to critique what we did wrong throughout the scenarios. I pushed a lot, instead of punching and kicking, not to mention I picked my wedgie a lot in the background. \nAfter I packed up my shoes and extra clothes, I got ready to leave. I asked Slone to give me a goodbye hug. When she approached me, she made a punching movement but transitioned into a hug. The hug was not scary. Zahasky refused to hug me.\nWhat makes me the happiest is that I survived four weeks of physical activity.\nOverall though, the RAD class was a great experience. Not to mention, the techniques – as well as the memories of all the wonderful people in the class (even Slone)– are something I can always bring with me.
(10/23/07 11:31pm)
Police arrested two Bloomington residents, one of them an IU employee, early Tuesday morning on suspicion of impersonating an IU Police Department officer.\nKyle J. Coppinger, an IU Residential Programs and Services employee, and Christopher D. Marshall, 21, each face two preliminary counts of impersonating a police officer and confinement.\nAt about 1:35 a.m. Tuesday morning, a 21-year-old woman was trying to park her car at her apartment complex when she put her hazard lights on and called her boyfriend to help her parallel park, Bloomington Police Department Sgt. Jeff Canada said, reading from a police report.\nWhile she was sitting in her car, a red Dodge Intrepid pulled up behind her and Coppinger approached her car, according to the police report. Coppinger produced an IUPD business card and asked the victim for her license and registration. While Coppinger went back to his vehicle, the victim called her boyfriend and told him to come outside, Canada said.\nMarshall approached her vehicle after Coppinger came back with her identification. Coppinger began beating on the victim’s window and asked her if she wanted a parking ticket, Canada said. The victim called 911 as her boyfriend approached the two suspects. Coppinger threw the identification cards at the victim’s boyfriend and left the scene, according to the police report.\nLater at about 3 a.m., a 23-year-old male was pulling into his apartment complex in the 1600 block of East Hillside Drive and noticed a red Dodge Intrepid pulling up behind him. Coppinger identified himself to the victim as an IUPD officer, according to the report. The victim repeatedly asked why Coppinger was pulling him over. Coppinger and the victim were having a heated debate when a neighbor came out to help the victim, Canada said. Coppinger and Marshall then proceeded to drive away, he said.\nBPD Officer Brad Seifers believed Coppinger and Marshall were targeting college students and drove to downtown bars to see if he could spot the Red Dodge Intrepid. While patrolling on Fourth and Dunn streets, Seifers noticed the vehicle and began following it, Canada said. Coppinger pulled the vehicle into a parking spot on Fourth and Dunn Streets and shut off the lights, Canada said. Seifers called for a back-up officer to perform a high-risk traffic stop.\nBoth of the victims were called to the scene to identify the suspects after Seifers pulled them over, Canada said. Both victims positively identified both Coppinger and Marshall, Canada said.\nCanada said an officer should always have his badge on him and an identification card. He also said if an officer were to pull someone over, it would be by visual means, flashing police car lights, not by physically approaching a car.
(10/19/07 4:21am)
An IU School of Law student being held on a weapons charge after allegedly shooting an assault rifle from his balcony pleaded not guilty in court Thursday.\nJesse M. Sneed, 27, was arrested Tuesday morning after he allegedly fired several rounds into the ground from his balcony on the west side of town. He is being charged with criminal recklessness with a weapon.\nThe shots were fired from West Arch Haven Avenue, located about two miles from campus. No one was killed or injured by the shots.\nAfter investigating the crime scene, the Bloomington Police Department uncovered a law textbook underneath the balcony titled “Real Estate Transfer, Finance and Development.” The textbook contained two bullet holes, BPD Capt. Joe Qualters said. \nAuthorities are still not aware of the motives for the shootings.\nAttorney Sam Shapiro will be representing Sneed. Shapiro was not available for comment by press time.\nWitnesses called police Tuesday morning after hearing several short bursts of gunfire at Arch Haven Apartments. The Critical Incident Response Team arrived at the scene at about 7:30 a.m. in order to communicate with the suspect. \nSneed, who matched the description of the suspect, was seen trying to leave the area in a red Chevrolet Cavalier and was taken into custody at about 8:30 a.m. Tuesday morning. Believing there might be another suspect in the building, officers took extra security measures in order to ensure civilian safety. Qualters said they could not be satisfied with the suspect in custody.\nOfficers were able to evacuate seven of the apartment complex’s residents before the Critical Incident Response Team entered the apartment. BPD did not find any other suspects in the building but located an AK-47 and an AR-15, both assault rifles, in Sneed’s attic.\nHe was taken to BPD for questioning Tuesday morning but declined to comment.\nBPD is still investigating the matter.
(10/19/07 12:50am)
An Indiana man was arrested Wednesday in connection with the death of Monroe County Jail officer William Brand.\nBenjamin H. Steinberg, 28, faces a preliminary charge of murder.\nBrand was fatally shot in the head Feb. 8, 2005, while driving south on State Road 37, according to the probable cause affidavit filed Wednesday. A vehicle pulled up alongside Brand’s vehicle and fired two shots. One hit him in the back of the head.\nBefore the murder took place, Steinberg had paid $800 for an AR-15 assault rifle from Martinsville resident Lonnie Griffin. Officers confirmed the purchase with Griffin through telephone records and police statements, according to the affidavit.\nA day after the murder, Steinberg’s roommate, Kenneth Craft, contacted law enforcement, saying he had information regarding Brand’s murder. Craft told officers he was “100 percent sure” Steinberg had committed the shooting, according to the affidavit. Craft told officers that Steinberg told him there was gun powder in his vehicle and that he intended to gut the vehicle and report it stolen.\nSteinberg fled town the day after the murder and checked into a hotel in New Albany, Ind. After Steinberg was arrested in an unrelated case in Floyd County, he called his mother and told her he had given his gun, cell phone and car to an unknown masked man that framed him for the shooting, according to the affidavit.\nIn June 2005 Croydon Bowers, Steinberg’s cellmate at the Lawrence County Jail, contacted police saying Steinberg told him he had killed Brand and the police would not be able to prove it, according to the affidavit. Steinberg told Bowers he was worried about a possible videotape from a convenience store in Bedford, Ind.\nA year later, Steinberg sent a letter to his friend, Mel Mordoe, requesting Mordoe impersonate a law enforcement officer to inquire about the surveillance tape from the convenience store. Indiana State Police performed a controlled delivery of the letter and Mordoe did not reply to Steinberg’s request, according to the affidavit.\nIn February, Brand’s widow, Stacy, filed a wrongful death suit in the Monroe County Circuit Court against Steinberg, according to a press release by Shean Law Offices. The Monroe County Prosecutor’s office filed a single count of murder against Steinberg \nWednesday.\nSteinberg is being held at the Monroe County Jail without bond.
(10/18/07 4:03am)
The Bloomington Police Department is investigating an armed robbery on South Morton Street.\nOfficers were dispatched at roughly 5:30 a.m. Monday to the Kroger at 528 S. College Ave., where a victim called in reporting he was robbed at knife point, BPD Sgt. Jeff Canada said, reading from a police report. The victim told officers he was on South Morton Street when he was approached by an older man asking him for a cigarette, Canada said.\nThe suspect produced a knife and demanded the victim’s money and bicycle. The suspect fled the scene riding southbound on Morton Street, Canada said. The suspect is described as being in his late 40’s, 5-foot-9-inches tall, 185 pounds with “scraggly” brown hair, Canada said. Anyone with information is encouraged to call BPD at 339-4477.
(10/18/07 2:57am)
Since she was a child, junior Samantha Weiss has wanted to work in a museum. Now, after enrolling in IU’s new undergraduate Arts Administration Program, Weiss was granted the chance to intern next summer at the Indianapolis Museum of Art.\n“I always had an interest in museums, but wasn’t aware of how to study it in college,” she said.\nThe IU Arts Administration Program has been around since 1971 but only became available to undergraduate students this semester. \nThe program provides undergraduate students with the background and skills necessary to function in the management aspects of the arts industry, according to the program’s Web site. The program is designed to prepare students for careers in areas such as development relations, marketing, artistic direction and programming, arts education and financial management.\nSusan Sandberg, coordinator for the Arts Administration Program, said the undergraduate program finally provides an outlet for students who had to individualize a major that didn’t exist prior to the program.\n“Many students started in the Individualized Major Program, (and) now we’re able to bridge that gap,” Sandberg said.\nThe undergraduate program lured six students into it without any advertising, something that Sandberg said she’s very proud of.\n“We couldn’t do any advertising or promoting of the degree until the major was approved by the higher education commission,” she said.\nSandberg explained that because their standards are high for the program, only six students could be accepted, though more applied. She’s hoping students who were not accepted will take an interest in the 21-credit certificate program that the program offers. There are currently 20 students enrolled in the certificate program.\nThe certificate program gives the student a concentration that they might use as a minor, Sandberg said. She suggested the concentration would be appropriate for music, dance and theater majors who want to be performers, but may also want to manage their careers.\nIU alumna Meg Liffick, the senior marketing director at the museum, helped Weiss receive the internship at the Indianapolis Art Museum. Sandberg said she is happy that the graduate students from the program offer good networking for the undergraduates.\n“Our graduates are all over the place, and that’s a tremendous asset for students in the program when they’re looking for competitive internships and looking for opportunities in the arts,” Sandberg said. “We have people that we can introduce them to.”\nWith the new undergraduate program, Sandberg said the program itself has almost doubled because of the new staff hired to support the program.\nProfessor Christopher Hunt said even though he’s only been working with the Arts Administration Program since the middle of spring semester 2007, he’s been very impressed.\n“I think it works well as a preparation given that the business of actually working is different than the theory of studying,” he said.\nHunt, who spent 30 years running festivals around the world, including the Adelaide Festival of Arts in Australia, said the temptation of being a teacher and passing on his personal experience is what brought him to IU.\n“I thought I had retired,” he said laughing.\nThe IU Arts Administration Program started in the Kelley School of Business before moving to the Jacobs School of Music. Sandberg and Charles Bonser, who is director of the Arts Administration Program, helped bring the program to the School of Public and Environmental Affairs.\n“We’re very happily married to the SPEA family because of it’s non-profit management expertise,” Sandberg said.\nWeiss said she wishes the undergraduate program had been available sooner.\n“It’s unfortunate they didn’t open up the undergraduate program until this year, or I would’ve majored in it,” Weiss said.\nHowever, Sandberg is hopeful for the future of the program.\n“We’re growing and we’re looking for good students,” she said. “We’re looking for students that are going to go on and be very serious about the arts and building an arts career.”
(10/17/07 9:12pm)
The Bloomington Police Department is investigating an armed robbery on South Morton Street.\nOfficers were dispatched at roughly 5:30 a.m. Monday to the Kroger at 528 S. College Ave., where a victim called in reporting he was robbed at knife point, BPD Sgt. Jeff Canada said reading from a police report. The victim told officers he was on South Morton Street when he was approached by an older man asking him for a cigarette, Canada said.\nThe suspect produced a knife and demanded the victim’s money and bicycle. The suspect fled the scene riding southbound on Morton Street, Canada said. The suspect is described as being in his late 40’s, 5-foot-9-inches, 185 pounds with “scraggly” brown hair, Canada said. Anyone with information is encouraged to call BPD at 339-4477.
(10/17/07 4:46am)
Police arrested an IU law student early Tuesday morning after he allegedly fired several shots from his balcony on the west side of town.\nJesse M. Sneed, 27, faces preliminary charges of criminal recklessness with a weapon. \nNo one was killed or injured by the shots.\nThe Bloomington Police Department received a complaint at about 7 a.m. Tuesday in regards to “short bursts of gunfire,” BPD Capt. Joe Qualters said. Officers arrived at the scene in the 1300 block of West Arch Haven Avenue within 10 minutes of the call and heard gunshots as they arrived in the Arch Haven apartment complex.\nA witness observed Sneed wearing a dark baseball cap and a red shirt standing on a balcony on the second floor of the apartment building, Qualters said. Sneed was seen with an assault rifle in his hand and appeared to be “agitated,” he said. \nThe Bloomington Police Department Critical Incident Response Team and hostage negotiators were called to the scene to help secure a perimeter and determine the best method to establish communication with Sneed, Qualters said.\nIU alumnus Billy Lockman, who lives in the apartment building, said he woke up after hearing one or two gunshots. He said he went back to sleep but heard more rapid gunfire and got up to see what was going on. Lockman was not allowed back into the apartment building until officers were done investigating the matter.\nSometime between 8:15 and 8:30 a.m., Sneed, who matched the description of the suspect, was seen trying to leave the area in a red Chevrolet Cavalier, Qualters said. Sneed was asked repeatedly to exit the car but was uncooperative with officers. Sneed was physically removed from the vehicle and was described as being under the influence of alcohol, Qualters said.\nSneed was taken into custody and brought to BPD headquarters for questioning. Sneed immediately requested an attorney, Qualters said.\nOfficers secured the area in an attempt to determine if others were in the apartment. Qualters said officers had to take all necessary precautions to make sure there were no other suspects involved in the shooting.\n“We could not be satisfied with this suspect in custody,” Qualters said at a press briefing Tuesday afternoon.\nBloomington resident John Mehalechko was pacing around the crime scene throughout the morning. He said his son and daughter were in the apartment building during the shooting. He said he heard about the shootings on the radio and contacted his children right away. Both of his children were told to stay inside the building until further notice. Mehalechko said he was scared but it was OK because his children were safe inside.\nOfficers were able to evacuate seven residents of the apartment and move them to a safe area, Qualters said. The Critical Incident Response Team entered the apartment building after communication efforts failed. Officers did not find anybody else inside the building, Qualters said.\nOfficers found two rifle cases and two assault rifles, an AR-15 and an AK-47, in the attic area of the apartment, Qualters said. No other suspects were found. Shell casings and bullets were found outside of Sneed’s apartment and were collected for evidence.\n“This could not have ended any better from our perspective,” Qualters said.\nThe case is still under investigation by BPD.
(10/17/07 3:22am)
Bloomington Police Department Officer Monica Zahasky was standing in the front of the training room rearranging the punching pads when I walked through the door.\n“I hope you brought your shoes today,” she said laughing.\nOh, I brought them and I was ready to whoop butt.\nSgt. Leslie Slone, IU Police Department, was standing next to Zahasky and looking intense. Something about her made me fear for my life.\nI slipped on my tennis shoes and joined the rest of the class in a circle for the warm up. The rest of the class stretched while I attempted to reach my toes. I could not reach them.\nWe began the class by reviewing what we learned the previous two weeks. We started off with hand strikes to the body’s soft spots – the neck, throat, eyes, groin – and moved quickly onto kicks and foot stomps.\nFor the first hour of class, Slone and BPD Officer Paul Post held up pads for us to punch. \nSlone had a much more dynamic approach to practicing, moving around while the class members were punching the pads. As she got closer to my face with the pad, I attempted to punch the pad harder and harder.\n“Are you going to let an attacker get this close to your face?” Slone asked.\nThe class was given a break as soon as I started to break a sweat. It was the first time in three weeks that I lost my breath.\nDuring our break I explained to Officer Post that even though I’ve taken self-defense classes before, I don’t think I’d be able to execute the defense techniques if I were ever attacked. \nPost explained that it’s common to shut down in times of danger, but he said there’s a reason that we practice the techniques. The reason being to let go of your fear and react automatically to protect yourself.\nI let go of some of that fear by talking to Slone during the break. She wasn’t scary at all and very easy to approach.\nDon’t get me wrong, she scared the crap out of me, but her intensity made it easy for me to understand the importance of self-defense. \nAfter the break, Post, Zahasky and Slone demonstrated how to break free from an attacker if he were to grab your wrists. The exercise hurt my wrists a bit, and I wasn’t able to break free from my partner or Zahasky. I gave up and waited until the next technique was taught.\nZahasky and Post began demonstrating three, seven-move techniques to break free from an attacker if he were to bear hug you from the front or the back. Each of the three, seven-move techniques consisted of getting your balance, striking the attacker with your head, fist, foot and then knee. \nSlone left the class a little while after we learned those techniques and was replaced by IUPD Sgt. David Rhodes.\nDuring the last hour of class, Rhodes, Zahasky and Post taught the class how to block choke-holds and how to stop the attacker from obstructing your airway. \nThe last couple of moves dealt with the possibility of being on the floor while an attacker is straddling you. We learned to push with our hips to shift our weight so the attacker would lose his balance and fall off of us.\nWe cooled down at the end of the class and began discussing the full-fledged simulation for next week’s class.\nI feel pretty confident about kicking butt next week but at the same time, I’m worried I’ll shut down during the simulation. Hopefully I can take Post’s advice and realize that I know how to defend myself.\nMaybe Slone will be there next week to scare me into fighting.
(10/16/07 4:00am)
- 1:48 p.m. Update\nPolice identified the suspected gunman as 27-year-old Jesse M. Sneed, who is an IU student.
(10/16/07 3:47am)
The Bloomington Police Department is investigating an armed robbery that occurred early Saturday morning.\nOfficers were dispatched at about 9:30 a.m. Saturday to the 700 block of North Washington Street after two Bloomington residents reported they had been robbed at gunpoint, Bloomington Police Department Sgt. Jeff Canada said, reading from a police report.\nOne of the victims told officers he was sleeping at his residence when the sound of someone opening the front door woke him up, Canada said. The suspect had a gun and ordered the victim to turn over all his money, according to the report. After handing over his money, the suspect asked the victim if any of his roommates were home, Canada said.\nAfter the victim woke up his roommate, the suspect ordered him to give up all his money, but the roommate didn’t have any, Canada said.\nThe victims told officers they did not call the police right away because the suspect threatened them, saying he “knows where they live and would come back and get them,” Canada said.\nBPD gained information from Facebook.com after the victims told officers they thought they knew who the suspect was, Canada said.\nThe suspect is described as a 5-foot-10 black male in his early 20s with a light complexion and a stocky build. Anyone with information is encouraged to call BPD at 349-4477.
(10/15/07 9:05pm)
The Bloomington Police Department is investigating an armed robbery that occurred early Saturday morning.\nOfficers were dispatched at about 9:30 a.m. Saturday to the 700 block of North Washington Street after two Bloomington residents reported they had been robbed at gunpoint, Bloomington Police Department Sgt. Jeff Canada said, reading from a police report.\nOne of the victims told officers he was sleeping at his residence when the sound of someone opening the front door woke him up, Canada said. The suspect had a gun and ordered the victim to turn over all his money, according to the report. After handing over his money, the suspect asked the victim if any of his roommates were home, Canada said.\nAfter the victim woke up his roommate, the suspect ordered him to give up all his money, but the roommate didn’t have any, Canada said.\nThe victims told officers they did not call the police right away because the suspect threatened them, saying he “knows where they live and would come back and get them,” Canada said.\nBPD gained information from Facebook after the victims told officers they thought they knew who the suspect was, Canada said.\nThe suspect is described as a 5-foot-10 black male in his early 20s with a light complexion and a stocky build. Anyone with information is encouraged to call BPD at 349-4477.
(10/11/07 4:22am)
Police arrested an IU student twice this week on multiple felony charges for drug possession.\nBrandon P. Spencer, 21, faces preliminary charges of dealing cocaine, dealing a schedule I, II and III controlled substance, possession of marijuana with intent to deal and maintaining a common nuisance.\nThe Bloomington Police Department first received a call Monday afternoon after neighbors heard a disturbance coming from Spencer’s apartment located in the 2300 block of Brandon Court, BPD Sgt. Jeff Canada said, reading from a police report. Canada said officers described Spencer’s apartment as “trashed,” citing examples such as ceiling fans torn down, the refrigerator knocked over and tables overturned. \nOfficers found a shotgun and shell casings on the floor in the apartment, as well as two bags of marijuana on a shelf, Canada said. Police found Spencer in the back bedroom and he told officers he was upset because he was having problems with his girlfriend, Canada said.\nPolice arrested Spencer Monday but Spencer posted bail and was released from the Monroe County Jail Tuesday. \nHowever, at about 2 p.m. Tuesday BPD Det. Jarred Burns spotted Spencer driving erratically on Henderson Street. After following him, Burns noticed Spencer throwing items out of his car window, Canada said. \nBurns contacted Officer Randy Gehlhausen and asked him to make the traffic stop. Gehlhausen stopped Spencer at Atwater Avenue and Henderson Street, and immediately smelled a strong marijuana odor coming from Spencer’s car, Canada said. \nOfficers located seven plastic bags containing crack cocaine in the car after arresting Spencer, Canada said. Sgt. David Drake said the bags contained about 300 rocks of crack cocaine in total. Officers also found 36 ecstasy pills and $3,500 rolled up in the side pockets of the car, Canada said.\nPolice arrested Spencer and transported him to the Monroe County Jail where they held him on a $100,000 surety bond and $500 cash.
(10/11/07 4:00am)
As an avid TV watcher, I've been extremely disappointed with the sitcoms that have been airing recently. Fortunately, the first season of "The Sarah Silverman Program" brings something fresh and exciting to the small screen. \nSarah Silverman, who plays herself, is portrayed as an immature brat who constantly freeloads off her younger sister Laura Silverman. Laura falls in love with police officer Jay, who arrested Sarah for driving her car into a playground. Sarah's neighbors Steve (Steve Agee) and Brian (Brian Posehn) are gay lovers who spend most of their time bickering with each other. \nThe first season follows Sarah through six episodes of tripping on cough medicine while driving, pooping in her pants, sleeping with black God and finding a way to turn every situation into a song. \nDespite over-the-top amusing conversations between characters, Silverman can often be annoying and incredibly unlikable as a main character. She acts incredibly selfish throughout most of the episodes, which usually formulates most of the comedy, but also can make the viewer's head spin. At one point, for instance, Sarah convinces herself she's a lesbian to win the affection of a female police officer. When the officer finally believes her, she decides she's not a lesbian. Also, the conflict and tension between Sarah and officer Jay sometimes feels contrived and forced. \nBonus materials include sing-along and karaoke versions of Silverman's songs during each episode (seven total songs) and 13 mini-stories sung live by Silverman and Agee on the Comedy Central stage. The mini-stories start with "Brian's Story," a talking-song about Posehn not knowing he was playing a gay man on the show. It transitions into a "black folk song" titled "Froggie" and continues flowing into a humorous acoustic song about poop.\nEven though the show teeters on the fine line between right and wrong and eventually tips into full-blown political incorrectness, viewers can't help but grab their stomachs from laughing so hard. If this show doesn't restore your faith in over-the-top television comedy, nothing will.
(10/10/07 10:41pm)
Police arrested an IU student twice this week on several felony charges for drug possession.\nBrandon P. Spencer, 21, faces preliminary charges of dealing cocaine, dealing a schedule I, II and III controlled substance, possession of marijuana with intent to deal and maintaining a common nuisance.\nThe Bloomington Police Department first received a call Monday afternoon after neighbors heard a disturbance coming from Spencer’s apartment located in the 2300 block of Brandon Court, BPD Sgt. Jeff Canada said, reading from a police report. Canada said officers described Spencer’s apartment as “trashed,” citing examples such as ceiling fans torn down, the refrigerator knocked over and tables overturned. \nOfficers found a shotgun and shell casings on the floor in the apartment, as well as two bags of marijuana on a shelf, Canada said. Spencer was found in the back bedroom and told officers he was upset because he was having problems with his girlfriend, Canada said.\nSpencer was arrested Monday but posted bail and was released from the Monroe County Jail Tuesday. \nBut at about 2 p.m. Tuesday BPD Det. Jarred Burns spotted Spencer driving erratically on Henderson Street. After following Spencer, Burns noticed Spencer throwing items out of his car window, including a CD, Canada said. \nBurns contacted Officer Randy Gehlhausen and asked him to make the traffic stop. Gehlhausen stopped Spencer at Atwater Avenue and Henderson Street, and immediately smelled a strong marijuana odor coming from Spencer’s car, Canada said. \nOfficers located seven plastic bags containing crack cocaine in the car after arresting Spencer, Canada said. Sgt. David Drake said the bags contained about 300 rocks of crack cocaine in total. Officers also found 36 ecstasy pills and $3500 rolled up in the side pockets of the car, Canada said.\nSpencer was arrested and transported to the Monroe County Jail and is being held on a $100,000 surety bond and $500 cash.
(10/10/07 4:35am)
Police arrested an IU student Tuesday on several felony charges for drug possession, according to a representative at the Monroe County Jail. He’s currently being held on a $100,000 surety bond.\nThe Bloomington Police Department arrested Brandon P. Spencer, 21, of the 2300 block of Brandon Court, on preliminary charges of dealing cocaine, dealing a scheduled I, II and III controlled substance and possession of marijuana, the representative from the Monroe County Jail said.\nPolice arrested Spencer Tuesday afternoon and are holding him on a $100,000 surety bond and $500 cash.