WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University police are looking for a man involved in an attempted robbery that occurred Wednesday (June 24) in a gravel parking lot north of the Marsteller Street Parking Garage.

A woman was in the parking lot at about 5:00p when she was approached by a man who motioned that he wanted her purse. When he attempted to grab the purse, she fled to her car and left. She was not injured.

The suspect left the area heading south toward Wood Street. He was described as being dark-skinned and 18 to 22 years old with shaggy hair. He was wearing a blue polo short and gray shorts.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Purdue Police Department at 765-494-8221.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University police on Sunday (May 10) arrested a man on several charges, including the attempted theft of a dog sculpture that is part of the Dog Days of Summer community art project. Police also recovered one of two sculptures previously reported stolen.

Adam Sachs, 20, a sophomore in the College of Engineering from St. Louis, was taken to Tippecanoe County Jail on preliminary charges of public intoxication, consumption of alcohol by a minor, criminal mischief and attempted theft.

According to a police report, an officer saw Sachs shortly before 3:30 a.m. attempting to steal the dog sculpture “El Perro” that was located on campus near the intersection of Grant Street and Northwestern Avenue. Sachs was carrying a toolbox with him when he was arrested, according to the report. The statue was not damaged.

In addition to Sunday’s attempted theft, two of the 41 dog sculptures decorated by area artists as part of the art project were stolen late Friday (May 8) or early Saturday (May 9). Police do not believe Sachs was involved in the previous thefts.

On Sunday afternoon, police recovered one of those sculptures – “Give a Dog a Bone, an X-RAY View” by artist Liz Rainey. A passerby called police after spotting the artwork behind foliage outside the Purdue School of Veterinary Medicine’s Lynn Hall, near the location from which the dog was originally taken. Nicknamed “Oliver” by students, the sculpture was sponsored through contributions from students, faculty and staff in honor of the School of Veterinary Medicine’s 50th anniversary.

“It’s great that Oliver has been recovered,” said Kevin Doerr, the School of Veterinary Medicine’s director of alumni relations and public affairs. “Everyone loved this beautifully painted dog, and having it back safely at the school is a tremendous encouragement. It appears to be in excellent condition except for the leg that was broken by the person who removed the sculpture from its mounting location.”

Police are still attempting to find the final missing dog. “Alfie the Alpha Dog,” decorated by artist Janet Combs Ivas, was taken from the Northwestern Avenue side of the West Lafayette Public Library.

Doerr said a reward of up to $250 was being offered for its safe return.

Anyone with information related to the thefts is asked to contact Purdue police at 765-494-8221 or the anonymous tip line at 765-496-3784.

The School of Veterinary Medicine and the Art Museum of Greater Lafayette partnered on the project that placed decorated life-size dog statues throughout Lafayette and West Lafayette.

In addition to celebrating the 50th anniversary of the school, the project also is a tribute to the 100th anniversary of the Art Museum of Greater Lafayette and benefits both equally. The Dog Days of Summer builds upon previous sculpture projects in the community: Hog Wild in 2003 and Frog Follies in 2005. This new project was inspired by the School of Veterinary Medicine’s outdoor sculpture “Continuum” by Larry Anderson, which features a dog as part of its array of people and animals in a depiction of the enduring human-animal bond.

Artists from Indiana and other areas were recruited to decorate three-dimensional dog forms. Corporations, business owners, veterinarians and individuals have sponsored the individual dogs.

Proceeds from the project will benefit the School of Veterinary Medicine’s 50th Anniversary Scholarship Endowment and its Good Samaritan Fund, and the Art Museum of Greater Lafayette’s art education programs.

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. (Lafayette Online) — The Purdue Police Department reminds faculty and staff to be cautious and obey all stop signs and traffic control devices on the West Lafayette campus, particularly along Harrison Street between South Russell Drive and South Martin Jischke Drive.

Due to construction in the area, traffic has been realigned and lanes have been narrowed along Harrison Street.

The Police Department has noticed an increase in the number of vehicles ignoring the stop signs and traffic control devices in that area, increasing the chances for a serious accident. To help with safety, the police will be aggressively patrolling the area throughout the coming weeks.