March 29, 2018

Purdue police investigates series of false fire alarms

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University police are conducting a criminal investigation into seven instances over the last three days of false fire alarms being set off.

The series of false alarms began mid-afternoon Tuesday (March 27) and have continued through early Thursday (March 29). The buildings where the incidents occurred are Stewart Center, Purdue Memorial Union, Rawls Hall and the Krannert Building. The alarms include:

• 2:27 p.m., Tuesday (March 27). Purdue Memorial Union in the southwest area of the basement.

• 7:51 p.m. Tuesday (March 27). Stewart Center, northeast entrance outside Room 170.

• 8:25 a.m. Wednesday (March 28). Stewart Center, near Loeb Playhouse.

• 8:31 a.m. Wednesday (March 28). Purdue Memorial Union, first floor.

• 8:36 a.m. Wednesday (March 28). Rawls Hall, east stairwell on the first floor.

• 6:50 p.m. Wednesday (March 28). Krannert Building, main entrance off south side.

• 5:16 a.m. Thursday (March 29). Purdue Memorial Union, east-side doors of ground floor.

“We are asking anyone who may have seen someone suspicious in these areas to let us know and to report anything they see moving forward,” said Purdue police Capt. Matt Wietbrock. “This is a serious matter and will be dealt with as such. We will be looking at any video that we have from on-campus cameras.”

By Indiana Code, falsely activating a fire alarm is a Class B misdemeanor. However, it becomes a Class A misdemeanor if it substantially hinders any law enforcement process or if it results in harm to another person.

“We want to remind everyone that regardless of whether they think an alarm activation is legitimate, they should evacuate the building until fire personnel can assess the situation,” Purdue fire chief Kevin Ply said. “Aside from the disruption and inconvenience these false alarms cause to those in the buildings, this is taking our emergency personnel away from other potentially serious matters that might arise.”

Anyone with information is asked to call the Purdue Police Department at 765-494-8221. The WeTip anonymous hotline, which is used by all Greater Lafayette law enforcement agencies, also is available at 1-800-78CRIME (1-800-782-7463). 

Writer: Jim Bush, 765-494-2077, jsbush@purdue.edu  

Sources: Matt Wietbrock, 765-494-8221, mcwietbrock@purdue.edu

Kevin Ply, 765-494-6919, kmply@purdue.edu 

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