-- Oct. 23, 2007 Update: The charges against James R. Dreesen, Jr. were dimissed on Aug. 21, 2007, according to Monroe Circuit Court records.
A foot chase downtown early Saturday morning left one IU student heading to jail and one heading to the hospital, according to IU Police Department reports.\nJust after 3 a.m. Saturday, IUPD officers Brian Oliger and Stephen Luce responded to a Bloomington Police Department report of a fight occurring in the alley behind Nick’s English Hut, 423 E. Kirkwood Ave., said IUPD Capt. Jerry Minger, reading from a police report.\nAs they drove into the alley, the officers noticed a subject, who was later identified as 21-year-old IU student James R. Dreesen, Jr., standing over a man, who was lying on the ground and bleeding from his face, Minger said, reading from the report. The victim was later identified as an IU student.\nDreesen reportedly started to run as police got closer, heading toward the intersection of Sixth Street and Lincoln Avenue. At this point, officer Luce jumped out of the car and pursued Dreesen on foot, Minger said.\nAt the intersection of Sixth Street and Lincoln Avenue, Dreesen ran in front of a silver Lincoln that was heading southbound on Grant Street, Minger said, reading from the report.\n“Dreesen was almost struck by the car,” Minger said. “It looked like (the car) was going to drive off but it stopped. (Dreesen) got in the vehicle, and it drove off.” \nLuce reported this to the BPD, and the car was stopped within one block. Luce continued on foot to catch the car and was able to apprehend Dreesen.\nDreesen is in the Acacia fraternity, as were the people in the vehicle, Minger said, reading from the report.\nMinger said those who picked up Dreesen were not charged with any wrongdoing, as they had no idea he had been involved in a crime, but were merely offering him a ride home.\nDreesen refused to answer any questions without an attorney and told officers he wasn’t the person they were looking for, according to the police report.\nHowever, an excise officer found credit cards and identification belonging to the victim in Dreesen’s pocket, Minger said.\nDreesen was arrested on preliminary charges and taken to jail for robbery and aggravated battery, both Class B felonies, and resisting law enforcement, a Class A misdemeanor.\nThe victim was taken to the Bloomington Hospital, suffering from facial injuries. He has since been released, but Minger said the injuries he received will probably require surgery.
