Student accused of terroristic mischief

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - Purdue police arrested 21-year-old Purdue student Roy C. Sun Wednesday on preliminary charges of terroristic mischief and possession of stolen property.

Purdue Parking Services had placed a wheel lock on Sun's vehicle on Tuesday because the vehicle allegedly displayed a parking permit that did not belong to Sun.

A wheel lock, a parking ticket, and $20 were left in a box in the hallway in the Visitor Information Center at about 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday. This building also houses Parking Services.

A Purdue news release described the box as "suspicious."

The Visitor Information Center was evacuated.

Police used a portable X-ray machine to identify the box's contents.

People were allowed back into the building at about 9:00 a.m.

Detective Sgt. Matt Rosenbarger said that "terroristic mischief" is when a person knowingly or intentionally places a device with intent to cause a reasonable person to believe that it is a weapon of mass destruction.

The charge for terroristic mischief in this case is a Class C felony, punishable by up to eight years in prison and a fine of $10,000. Posession of stolen property is a Class D felony, which is punishable by up to three years in prison and a maximum fine of $10,000.

Sun was taken to the Tippecanoe County Jail.