Two charged after shots fired on IUP campus

[mjf]

http://www.indianagazette.com/articl...y/10001724.txt

Fair use.

Two charged after shots fired on IUP campus

By SAM KUSIC, skusic@indianagazette.net
Published: Tuesday, September 9, 2008 12:23 PM EDT

Two men are facing charges related to an incident in which a handgun was fired near an Indiana University of Pennsylvania dormitory early Monday morning.

According to IUP campus police, the incident began around 12:35 a.m. as Christian Allen Berry, 19, of 370 N. Fifth St., and Shane Michael Long, 22, of 353 Donahey Road, Glen Campbell, were driving down South 11th Street in Indiana. Police said they stopped near Scranton Hall to ask a group of three students whether they wanted to buy crack cocaine or marijuana. They told the men no, and the two drove off, according to police. As they turned west on Maple Street, the driver - police said it was Berry - stuck a handgun out the window and fired two shots into the air with a handgun.

That touched off a search for suspects conducted by borough, campus and state police. The students were able to provide police with a description of the vehicle and a license plate number.

State police located the vehicle less than two hours later at an apartment building at 145 N. Fourth St.

*
As police were watching the vehicle, Berry and another man got into another car and drove off, according to court documents. Police followed, pulled him over and took him into custody around 2:25 a.m. He is being charged via summons with recklessly endangering another person and disorderly conduct.

After Berry was arrested, police said they began checking the apartment building for Long. They found him asleep on a couch in apartment No. 4, according to court documents.

Upon trying to question him, police said, Long tried to walk away. They ordered him to sit on the couch and remain quiet, warning him that they would shock him with a Taser if he didn't comply.

Police said Long refused to cooperate, so they shocked him once and then wrestled him to the floor.

He was taken from the apartment to the state police barracks in White Township. While waiting for troopers to process paperwork on his arrest, Long said he needed medical help, fell off a chair and pretended to have a seizure, according to police.

As troopers began taking off handcuffs, he tried to kick and slap a trooper, according to court documents. Two troopers held had to hold down Long while they put the handcuffs back on.

He was taken to Indiana Regional Medical Center for treatment, police said.

Long is charged with harassment, simple assault, resisting arrest and two counts of obstruction.

He was arraigned Monday before District Judge Guy Haberl and placed in the Indiana County Jail in lieu of a $10,000 straight bond.

Following a mass shooting at Virginia Tech in 2007, IUP purchased an emergency communication system that automatically notifies students and employees in the event of a major emergency. When activated, the system alerts people through e-mail, voice mail and text messaging.

The university, however, did not activate the system for this incident.

University spokeswoman Michelle Fryling said the system is intended to be used only in situations that involve imminent danger.

And IUP President Tony Atwater said in a memo to the university that, in this case, there was no imminent danger because state police arrested the individuals shortly after the incident was reported.

``Please be assured that when there is an unresolved incident which poses an imminent danger, IUP will activate our emergency notification system,'' he wrote.

[Robert Kayland]

So what are we well-intentioned young white liberals calling these fellows nowadays?

[mjf]

So what are we well-intentioned young white liberals calling these fellows nowadays?

Well remember, the campus police were not even armed until last year.... because there was "no reason for them to carry firearms."

[ChamberedRound]

Following a mass shooting at Virginia Tech in 2007, IUP purchased an emergency communication system that automatically notifies students and employees in the event of a major emergency. When activated, the system alerts people through e-mail, voice mail and text messaging.

The university, however, did not activate the system for this incident.

University spokeswoman Michelle Fryling said the system is intended to be used only in situations that involve imminent danger.

And IUP President Tony Atwater said in a memo to the university that, in this case, there was no imminent danger because state police arrested the individuals shortly after the incident was reported.

``Please be assured that when there is an unresolved incident which poses an imminent danger, IUP will activate our emergency notification system,'' he wrote.

Two armed men discharging weapons on a campus filled with students who are unarmed (and not necessarily by choice) isn't cause to active such a system? A system for which I'm sure the cost was passed down to the students in the form of higher tuition. Is an incident not considered imminent until someone's already DEAD?!?

The rationale continues to baffle my mind...

[str8shooter]

Two armed men discharging weapons on a campus filled with students who are unarmed (and not necessarily by choice) isn't cause to active such a system? A system for which I'm sure the cost was passed down to the students in the form of higher tuition. Is an incident not considered imminent until someone's already DEAD?!?

The rationale continues to baffle my mind...

The way I read it, the incident didn't occur on campus. Maybe there's a step missing in the alert system that could issue a warning, but not full out alert. How about a color scheme, say Green Blue Yellow Orange Red. Nah, that's too ridiculous, no one would take it seriously. I gotta stop drinking that cough medicine.

Oh yeah, and it's a state college, so any expense for the non-alert system is passed on to us, the tax payers, not just the students.

[Mondain]

Yeah, 11th street isn't on campus if my memory still works.

[SFMarine]

That one guy was a moron for resisting so many times. Odd story to say the least...sounds like they were drunk/high but still ridiculous to be firing off rounds near campus?? Surprised they were able to find them being that it was late @ night.

[str8shooter]

I think the students deserve an A+. Apparently they did a great job with the descriptions and getting the tags.

[Solo]

Where are the drug charges? Didn't the cops find the drugs those two were trying to sell?

[dc dalton]

Funny my son hadn't mentioned this, he is in his final semester at IUP (and btw the way he IS armed and knows how to use it)

He had told me a while back he was getting involved with a group that was petitioning the college to allow licensed students to carry on campus but I never heard if anything happened.