IUPD nabs custodian in music school thefts

The IU Police Department arrested a School of Music janitor early Friday morning, ending a months-long investigation into a series of music school thefts.\nKaylif Marvin Bradlee Bennett, 27, was discovered by IUPD security officer Chris Shipman at approximately 1:52 a.m., after Shipman noticed several unsecured doors at the Musical Arts Center. Bennett, a resident of Bloomington, was found hiding in a basement storage room behind a floor cleaner, IUPD Lt. Jerry Minger said.\nAs recently as last semester, police believed Bennett was only a witness to the music school thefts. In October 2003, he fabricated a story to police claiming he was the victim of an assault, ostensibly by the would-be burglar at Merrill Hall. \nYet Shipman's discovery of the IU custodian, who had worked for the University since July, led police to consider him more closely as a possible suspect. During his interview with IUPD authorities, he admitted to thefts in both the School of Music and Ballantine Hall, and shortly thereafter agreed to return several items, leading to the resolution of at least six related theft cases, Minger said. \nBennett was most notably responsible for the theft of a $25,000 violin last fall. He also admitted to the theft of a Canon digital camera worth $500, a $1,795 speakers and wiring system and a laptop and projector worth more than $3,500. \nIUPD responded to the security breaches in early October by placing additional guards around the School of Music complex, which borders Jordan Avenue in the heart of campus.\nThe IDS reported in October that School of Music officials sent an e-mail warning students of the security infraction after a set of master keys to the music buildings went missing. En route to the Monroe County Jail, where he was held Saturday on preliminary charges of theft, Minger said Bennett unsuccessfully attempted to hide that master key ring under the squad car's seats. \nThe IUPD nabbed former School of Music student Carl St. Jacques with the theft of a hand-held computer, as well as four other minor thefts, at the school in March. St. Jacques, who was intimately involved with efforts in the Bloomington community to promote arts education and classical music in low-income children, was charged with larceny. So far, the two cases are unrelated.\nMinger said Bennett had "no legitimate reason" for being in the MAC at that hour, as he had been relieved of his duties there and had been transferred to another building. \nBennett faces a Class D felony, which carries a potential sentence of over one year, according to the Indiana Trial Courts' description of caseloads and case types. Bond was set at $25,000 surety or $50,250 cash. \n-- Contact staff writer Holly Johnson at hljohnso@indiana.edu.