WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — A Logansport man stopped for driving the wrong way on a one-way street early Sunday (Feb. 15) is facing alcohol and drug-related charges.

Thomas S. Vernon, 23, has been charged with operating while intoxicated, dealing in marijuana, possession of marijuana and maintaining a common nuisance. He is not a Purdue student.

According to a report, Purdue police patrol officer Travis Neal saw Vernon turn east from Grant Street onto State Street around 3:45 a.m. Sunday. At that location, Grant Street is open only to westbound traffic. Vernon was stopped for driving the wrong way, and he was initially arrested for suspicion of drunken driving.

One small bag of marijuana was later found in Vernon’s shoe, said Purdue police detective Sgt. Carrie Costello. Two additional bags of marijuana were discovered in the trunk of his 1998 Chevrolet Blazer, she said. The bags contained a total of about three pounds of marijuana, according to the police report. A person in possession of more than 30 grams of marijuana or allegedly selling it can be charged with dealing.

Three of the charges – the dealing and possession of marijuana charges and maintaining a common nuisance – are Class D felonies punishable by up to three years in prison and a maximum fine of $10,000.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Purdue Armory was evacuated for about 90 minutes Monday morning (Nov. 17) after university police evacuated the facility when a suspicious container was found on the building’s north side.

Police evacuated the Armory and closed off northbound University Street at Third Street shortly after the call came in at about 8:45 a.m. Purdue police Lt. Mike Boesch said approximately 100-150 people were evacuated. Both University Street and the Armory were reopened about 10:15 a.m.

Boesch said that at about 8:45 a.m. a groundskeeper found the small, military ammunition-type box atop a plastic toolbox near a bush on the north side of the Armory. The box was about 6 inches wide, 12 inches long and 8 inches tall. The groundskeeper opened the box, which contained black powder and other commonly available reloading supplies for a muzzleloading-type gun.

The Tippecanoe County Sheriff’s Department bomb squad took the package from the scene, and Purdue police continue to investigate the incident.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University police are investigating the theft of about $15,000 worth of copper electric power cable from a storage compound near the Physical Facilities Service Building off Ahlers Drive.

Purdue police Lt. Fred Davis said approximately 2,500 feet of coiled electric power cable was taken sometime between Wednesday (Oct. 29) evening and early Thursday (Oct. 30) morning. About 50 rolls of black plastic-coated cable, each weighing 40-50 pounds and 50 feet in length, were taken from storage containers at the compound, he said.

The theft was reported to police at about 10 a.m. Thursday after employees of the high-voltage electric shop noticed that a storage container was missing its padlock, and the door was open.

Theft is a Class D felony punishable by up to three years in prison and a maximum fine of $10,000.

Anyone with information related to the case is asked to call the Purdue Police Department at (765) 494-8221 or the anonymous tipline at (765) 496-3784.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University police are seeking a man in connection with a Thursday (June 12) morning attempted burglary at the Zeta Psi fraternity house, 950 David Ross Road.

The attempt is the second such incident reported in the last two days. Police investigated a burglary reported about 8:45 a.m. Wednesday (June 11) at the Alpha Kappa Lambda fraternity house at 417 Waldron St.

PUPD composite sketch of suspect

A man was confronted in the houses in both incidents, said Purdue Police Lt. Fred Davis. However, the suspect descriptions vary slightly.

In Thursday’s attempted burglary, a resident was preparing to leave for work around 5:30 a.m. and met a stranger in the hallway, according to a police report. The resident told police the man said he was looking for someone in the house. The man left the building through the front door, and the resident followed him and noticed a large blue duffel bag at the top of the stairs.

“The bag contained tools that the resident believes belong to the fraternity,” Davis said. “The resident looked around the house and didn’t notice anything else missing.”

PUPD composite sketch of suspect in attempted burglary at Alpha Kappa Lamda

The suspect is described as a bald white male in his late 20s, about 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing approximately 210-220 pounds. He was wearing a gray T-shirt and jean shorts, and drove away in a gray or light blue, possibly early 1990s, mid-sized van with two windows on the passenger side and double doors in the back, Davis said.

In Wednesday’s burglary at the Alpha Kappa Lambda fraternity house, a witness reported seeing an unknown man in the house around 8:40 a.m. Sometime after the man left, residents noticed several items – including a camera, a watch and a jar of change – were missing from their rooms. The suspect was described as a white, balding male with a goatee, 30-40 years old, about 6 feet tall and weighing approximately 200 pounds. He was wearing a blue button-up, collared shirt and khaki shorts and left in a blue woodgrain-patterned truck, Davis said.

Anyone with information about these cases or who has seen suspicious activity in the area is asked to contact the Purdue Police Department at (765) 494-8221 or the anonymous tip line at (765) 496-3784.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University Police are investigating a break-in that occurred Wednesday morning at 130 Russell St., West Lafayette

A male resident of the house told police he was awakened by the handle to his room door being jiggled, said interim Police Chief John Cox. The resident got up to see who was at the door and reportedly saw a white male walking down the hallway trying to open doors to other rooms.

The suspect reportedly saw the resident and fled from the house to the parking lot where he got into a white late 1990s model mid-size pickup truck with a black stripe or design on the side and drove away.

The suspect was described as 30 to 40 years of age, about 6′ 3″ to 6′4″ tall, with a shaved head. The resident also stated the suspect had a muscular build and was wearing a blue sweatshirt.

“Even though school is not in session, residents are reminded to keep their doors and belongings secured,” Cox said. “Incidents like this occur year round in and around campus. Students, staff and visitors are reminded to continue to stay vigilant and report all crimes and suspicious behavior to the police department.”

Anyone with information on this incident, is asked to contact the Purdue University Police Department at 765-494-8221.