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(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.
(10/10/07 3:48am)
Forgetting to bring my sneakers to the second week of my Rape Aggression Defense class was the dumbest mistake I ever made. I’ll be fine, I thought. I was wrong.\n Bloomington Police Department Officer Paul Post started the class with a quick 10-minute review lecture. He emphasized the importance of giving yourself the opportunity to escape from an attacker.\n“If you can resist, do it, and do it 100 percent,” Post said. “Don’t shut down. You’ve got a plan. You know what to do.”\nPost, Officer Monica Zahasky and independent RAD instructor Madeleine Gonin set up the punching mats while I took off my sandals and placed them to the side of the room. \nMy feet didn’t hurt at first.\nThe class arranged itself into a circle and began reviewing last week’s techniques, hand strikes and blocks. Zahasky reprimanded me again for not punching as hard as I could. \nThen the class learned another hand strike, called the hammer fist. We paired up with partners for the hammer-fist technique. I strapped the punching pad on my forearm and waited for my partner to deliver the blow. The strike didn’t startle me as much as I thought it would.\nGonin approached us and asked if we were friends. I said, of course, we’re best friends forever and ever. \n“Well, I’m not her friend,” Gonin said. She strapped the pad to her arm and let my partner punch her. Then it was my turn.\nMy partner congratulated me on how hard I punched Gonin. \n“Well, she ain’t my friend,” I said. \nAfter every successful set of punches, I did the running-man dance. At that point, I thought my feet were going to start swelling.Post, Zahasky and Gonin began teaching us to use our legs as weapons, demonstrating kicking techniques. The class learned three kicking strikes, all used to enhance space between you and your attacker or to hurt the attacker in one of the body’s weak spots.\n“Mr. Shady-man becomes Mr. Squeaky-man,” Post said after demonstrating a straight kick to the groin.We practiced the kicking strikes for about 30 minutes before I decided it was a good time to ask for a leg amputation. The pads of my feet as well as the muscle behind my knee were sore from the “rigorous” activity I was participating in.\nAt about 8 p.m., we circled up again, for what I thought was going to be a review of the day’s activities. But no, instead we were taught how to stomp our feet. For the next 10 minutes my sore and swollen feet had to stomp the ground in order to properly learn how to stomp an attacker’s foot, if he or she were to approach you from behind.\nFinally (about half an hour too early, too), we circled up and cooled down before being dismissed from class. Post, Zahasky and Gonin reminded me to bring my tennis shoes next time.
(10/09/07 3:59am)
A Bloomington resident was found dead in his car Monday morning in the 500 block of North Walnut Street.\nMonroe County Coroner Dave Toumey said the man’s death is not suspicious and has ruled it a suicide. \nThe Bloomington Police Department received a call at about 10 a.m. Monday morning reporting that a man appeared to be dead in his vehicle in front of Bynum Fanyo Associates, located at 528 N. Walnut St., BPD Capt. Joe Qualters said. \nQualters said officers determined the man was dead when they arrived to the scene. Officers believe the man died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, Qualters said. BPD found a gun on the man’s lap and a “note” in his car, Qualters said.\nQualters said authorities believe the man parked his car in front of the business and shot himself between 7 and 7:30 a.m. Qualters said nobody seemed to notice the man until BPD received the call around 10 a.m. There were no witnesses to the death, Qualters said.
(10/09/07 12:15am)
A Bloomington resident was found dead in his car early Monday morning in the 500 block of North Walnut Street.\nMonroe County Coroner Dave Toumey said the man’s death is not suspicious and has ruled it a suicide. \nThe Bloomington Police Department received a call at about 10 a.m. Monday morning reporting that a man appeared to be dead in his vehicle in front of Bynum Fanyo Associates, 528 N. Walnut St., BPD Capt. Joe Qualters said. \nQualters said officers determined the man was dead when they arrived to the scene. Officers believe the man died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, Qualters said. BPD found a gun on the man’s lap and a “note” in his car, Qualters said.\nQualters said authorities believe the man parked his car in front of the business and shot himself between 7 and 7:30 a.m. Qualters said nobody seemed to notice the man until BPD received the call around 10 a.m. There were no witnesses to the death, Qualters said.
(10/08/07 3:59am)
The Bloomington Police Department arrested two Bedford painters Thursday afternoon after they allegedly got into a fist fight at their job.\nTravis Wells, 36, faces preliminary charges of battery and public intoxication. Jonathan Self, 22, faces a preliminary charge of public intoxication.\nBPD was dispatched at about 3 p.m. Thursday afternoon to Virgo Apartments, 519 N. Lincoln St., after Wells and Self began punching each other after lunch, BPD Sgt. Jeff Canada said, reading from a police report.\nOfficers learned that Wells and Self had gone out to lunch and began fighting over cigarettes, Canada said. Self told officers he was upset that he couldn’t buy cigarettes, so he left and went back to the work site.\nWhen Wells returned he could not immediately find Self but eventually found him on the third floor of the apartment complex talking to residents, Canada said. Wells and Self got into an argument and began fighting. Witnesses told officers that Wells was punching Self while holding him in \na headlock.\nSelf lost a tooth during the fight and underwent surgery for an injury to his lip, Canada said.\nBoth men were transported to the Monroe County Jail.
(10/05/07 4:06am)
An Indianapolis man was shot and killed by Indiana State Police early Thursday morning after murdering his ex-wife and fleeing the scene with her children, police said.\nMajor Jones III, 28, was fatally shot by Indiana State Trooper Terry Watson while he held a child on his lap. Watson shot Jones after Jones became agitated and pointed a gun toward the child and police officers in a “threatening manner,” according to an Indiana State Police press release.\nJones’ ex-wife, Jessica Jones, 26, was shot seven times by her ex-husband, said Vigo County Coroner Dr. Roland Kohr.\nMajor Jones had met his ex-wife at about 11 p.m. Wednesday to give her child support money, said Bill Bergherm, assistant chief of criminal investigation for the Terre Haute Police Department. They got into an argument, and Major Jones tried to shove her into his vehicle, Bergherm said. \nJessica Jones ran to the Drury Inn, located at 3040 S. US Highway 41, but could not get into the building, Bergherm said. Major Jones shot her several times before fleeing the scene with Jessica Jones’ four children in a black 2003 GMC sports utility vehicle, according to the press release. Major Jones was the father of three of the children, while one was Jessica Jones’ child from another relationship. The children ranged in age from 2 to 6 years old, according to the press release.\nTerre Haute officers located Major Jones’ vehicle driving eastbound on I-70. Officers attempted to stop the vehicle, but it sped up and continued to flee, according to the press release. Troopers set up stop sticks, devices used to pop car tires, to force it to stop. Officers were successful after the stop sticks deflated three of the vehicles tires, forcing Jones to stop. \nThe officers negotiated with Jones and convinced him to let three of the four children out of the vehicle. Jones held the fourth child on his lap and had a handgun in his possession, according to the press release. Watson fired one shot at Jones, killing him. \nJones was pronounced dead at the scene by the Hendricks County coroner, according to the press release. The children were not harmed and have been released to the Vigo County Department of Child Services.\nThe autopsy for Jessica Jones was performed Thursday morning at the Terre Haute Regional Hospital. Kohr said she had seven gunshot wounds, including two to her head. \n“This was obviously a domestic dispute,” Kohr said.
(10/05/07 3:53am)
A Bloomington woman contacted the Bloomington Police Department early Wednesday morning after she was allegedly raped.\nThe victim, a 22-year-old woman, told police that she met her alleged attacker on MySpace and decided to meet him for dinner, BPD Sgt. Jeff Canada said, reading from a police report. The victim said the suspect did not want to drive home, so she directed him to a Motel 6. \nThe victim said she was raped in the suspect’s hotel room. She told police the suspect was drinking before the rape occurred. \nAfter the rape, the victim went to the hospital immediately for examination, Canada said. She had abrasions to her face and elbow.\nOfficers were unable to locate the suspect or his vehicle.\nAnyone with any information is encouraged to call Det. Rob Shrake at 349-4477.
(10/04/07 8:36pm)
A Bloomington woman contacted the Bloomington Police Department early Wednesday morning after she was allegedly raped.\nThe victim, a 22-year-old woman, told police that she met her alleged attacker on MySpace and decided to meet him for dinner, BPD Sgt. Jeff Canada said, reading from a police report. The victim said the suspect did not want to drive home, so she directed him to a Motel 6. \nThe victim said she was raped in the suspect’s hotel room. She told police the suspect was drinking before the rape occurred. \nAfter the rape, the victim went to the hospital immediately for examination, Canada said. She had abrasions to her face and elbow.\nOfficers were unable to locate the suspect or his vehicle.\nAnyone with any information is encouraged to call Det. Rob Shrake at 349-4477.
(10/03/07 10:53pm)
A Bloomington resident was arrested Tuesday night after police say he discharged a firearm within city limits. \nKeyston J. Rice, 21, faces preliminary charges of criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon after admitting he fired a handgun in Bloomington, BPD Sgt. Jeff Canada said.\nOfficers were dispatched to the 1100 block of South Clarizz Boulevard Tuesday night at about 11:20 p.m., after witnesses reported that Rice had fired shots, Canada said, reading from a police report. Witnesses at the scene reported hearing between four to six shots fired, Canada said, and pointed officers in the direction of the shots.\nWhen officers located Rice, he told them he received a phone call from his ex-girlfriend, who claimed someone was trying to “grab her.” Rice grabbed his gun, ran to her house and began shooting to try and scare his ex-girlfriend’s attacker, Canada said. Rice admitted to officers that he fired the weapon.\nOfficers found three shell casings at the crime scene and recovered the handgun from the ex-girlfriend’s residence, Canada said. Officers also confiscated another handgun from Rice’s residence, he said.\nRice was arrested and transported to the Monroe County Jail.
(10/03/07 4:07am)
I wasn’t excited or nervous; I was eager. Eager to learn.\nThe Bloomington Police Department held their first Rape Aggression Defense course of the year Monday night, and I was one of nine students in the class.\nOfficers Paul Post and Monica Zahasky, both certified to teach RAD classes, will be instructing the class every Monday evening this month.\n“We’re going to think about things in advance (so) you’ll be in a better situation if anything were to happen,” Post said. “The end goal of RAD is escape.” \nAs students filled the training room in the BPD headquarters, 220 E. Third St., I thought back to the last time I attempted to take a self-defense class. After the warm-up, I got so sick from the rigorous physical activity, I threw up twice in the bathroom.\nTo my relief, the amount of physical activity in the course depends on how much activity you want to do, Post told me. He explained there is a difference between protecting yourself and becoming the attacker.\n“If you have a chance to run, run,” he said.\nRAD pamphlets and wellness forms sat at each of the chairs. I filled the forms out, debating whether or not I would lie about my weight.\n“Do we have to put our real weight on the form?” another student asked jokingly.\nPost started the projector and pulled up a power point presentation to explain the purpose of the course.\nAccording to the program’s Web site, RAD is designed to help women with self-defense tactics. The course begins with awareness, prevention, risk reduction and risk avoidance, while teaching the basics of hands-on defense training.\nRAD is the only self-defense program that is endorsed by the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators, Post said.\nPost explained, with help from the power point, the importance of not giving an attacker the opportunity to \nattack you.\nAfter an hour and a half lecture, I finally got to learn the techniques of self-defense.\nWe warmed up for 10 minutes with jogging and stretching before delving into the techniques. Fortunately for me, the warm-up did not involve throwing up.\nThe first three techniques we learned were the defensive stances: cautious contact, warning contact and defensive stance. Each stance is for the different levels of danger you feel when “Mr. Shady” is approaching you. The warning contact and defensive stance also require verbalization – shouting “Step back!” and “No!” respectively.\nWe transitioned into blocking and striking motions for the last hour of class. The instructors held up red pads for us to block and punch.\nZahasky looked at me and told me she wanted me to punch the pad. “I am punching it!” \nI yelled.\n“Be as forceful as you can,” Post said. He explained that being forceful is a preemptive measure to make sure “Mr. Shady” can never get close enough to attack.\nThe class ended after a five-minute cool down period. Post congratulated the class on the completion of our first RAD class. He spoke about next week’s class and how we’ll \nbe using our knees for \nself-defense.\nI packed up my belongings and got ready to leave the building. Before leaving, Post personally congratulated me on not throwing up.
(10/03/07 4:03am)
The Bloomington Police Department arrested a Bloomington resident Monday night after he alledgedly battered a nurse in late September.\nClinton D. Dininger, 24, faces preliminary charges of battery resulting in a bodily injury.\nOn Sept. 24, the victim, a nurse at Bloomington Hospital, went to Dininger’s room to help him get comfortable in his hospital bed. While she attempted to help Dininger, he struck the left side of her body and bruised her, BPD Sgt. Jeff Canada said, reading from a police report.\nSeveral witnesses in the hospital told officers Dininger was being uncooperative and very loud, Canada said. Because Dininger was being treated at the hospital, officers could not arrest him. Officers filed a probable cause affidavit for Dininger’s arrest, Canada said.\nBPD Officer John Hoffmeister served the warrant for Dininger on Monday night at his home in the 100 block of South Pete Ellis Drive, Canada said.\nHe was arrested and transported to the Monroe \nCounty Jail.