Police make another revelry-related
arrest
By Kurt Esposito
and
Dave Stephens
Purdue Police have made a new arrest from the campus
disturbances on April 1, while the University has expelled another and
suspended a third.
The action is being taken as police and members
of the Office of the Dean of Students conduct investigations. The action
stems from activity on and near campus that followed the women's national
championship game on April 1.
Joshua Neeley, 20, of 705 E. Walnut St. in Chalmers,
Ind., was charged with two counts of theft and one count of criminal
mischief, all Class D felonies, one count of criminal recklessness,
a Class B misdemeanor, and one count of rioting, a Class A misdemeanor.
This marks the first new charge since six people
were charged the night of the campus disturbances.
According to authorities, Neeley, who is not a
Purdue student, allegedly started several fires on campus and stole
private property. If convicted of all charges, he could face more than
10 years in prison and be fined up to $36,000.
Police said Neeley was seen in a video taking part
in acts of vandalism and that his image was posted on a Web site, www.police.purdue.edu,
as part of an investigation to identify students.
The Web site features images of 158 people who
allegedly ignored police orders to leave areas where vandalism was taking
place. The site has recorded 22,819 hits since the images were posted
on April 5.
"The student who was expelled was seen at
more than one location gathering material together to build a fire;
fueling the fire," said Jeanne Norberg, director of the University
News Service. "The student who was suspended was trying to light
a fire, but was unsuccessful."
According to a Purdue press release, both students
were among those arrested during the disturbance. The University, however,
does not identify students due to privacy concerns.
Norberg said 20 students have been summoned for
disciplinary hearings thus far, with 14 hearings having been completed.
She said the outcomes for those cases are still pending.
In a e-mail sent to Purdue students this week,
Tony Hawkins, dean of students wrote, "Any students identified as actively
participating in the destructive and dangerous activity will be charged
by police and referred both to the prosecutor's office and to the Office
of the Dean of Students for disciplinary procedures.
"With sufficient evidence they can be suspended
or expelled from the University," he wrote in the e-mail.
According to University regulations, all students
have seven days to appeal any disciplinary actions.
Norberg said no timetable has been established
to bring the investigation to a close, but that the Dean of Students
Office is working hard to make sure everyone involved will receive a
fair hearing.
"Our dean of students does not want this to
be happening," said Norberg. "These are very good, thoughtful
(people). They are going to be fair in all the different situations."
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