4 IU swim team members arrested for multiple crimes

Four members of the IU men's swimming and diving team were arrested early Sunday morning for vandalizing several cars on campus, according to an IU Police Department report.\nKeith J. Dawley, 19, Jensen V. Ried, 18, Andrew M. Bengtsen, 18, and Tyler John Nielsen, 18, were arrested, said IUPD Capt. Jerry Minger, reading from the report. All were arrested and transported to the Monroe County jail on charges of illegal consumption, criminal mischief and public intoxication, Minger said.\nAn officer arrived at 12:52 a.m. Sunday at the 1700 block of Seventh Street, near Ashton Center, after a caller reported cars were being vandalized in that area, Minger said. The officer was driving west on Seventh Street when he noticed four men next to a 1995 purple Chevy Cavalier, Minger said. \nThe men were huddled around the car, and the officer watched them pick up and slide the back end of the car, moving it into the road to block traffic, Minger said. All four walked away when the officer approached, but the officer "maintained visual contact" with Ried and Bengtsen as they continued walking north, Minger said. \nAnother officer arrived on the scene and encountered Ried and Bengtsen near Ashton-Mottier Hall as they were trying to get into the locked building, Minger said. Minger said Neilsen and Dawley were hiding behind a large tree by the road before they were apprehended.\nPolice noticed that seven vehicles had been vandalized on Seventh Street as they pursued the men, but only four of the vehicles can be attributed to the four men, Minger said. The damage to the three other cars has not yet been reported by their owners, Minger said.\n"It looks like all the vandalism was caused by those individuals, according a witness," said IUPD Sgt. Chad Bennett. The four men at first denied vandalizing the vehicles but eventually admitted to the offense. Side mirrors were broken off all the vehicles, and the Chevy Cavalier had a torn license plate with one screw in place, a pushed-in gas cap cover and a torn passenger mirror, Minger said.\nPhil Perry, assistant director of media relations for IU athletics, would not discuss any repercussions from the swim team for the men's actions.\n"We are aware of the matter," he said. "We're currently gathering the facts on the matter, and when that process is complete, we will address it accordingly"