Posted on 02/25/2009 11:28:42 AM PST by jaydubya2
WESTVILLE | An instructor at Purdue University North Central on his way to teach offenders was caught at Westville Correctional Facility with a handgun, according to prison officials.
The gun along with several bullets were inside a book that was hollowed out.
Westville Correctional Facility was still under lockdown Wednesday to allow for offenders to be questioned and searched to make sure no other contraband previously found its way inside, said WCF spokesman John Schrader.
What part-time instruction Jeffrey Grupp was doing with the firearm isn't clear but is being examined closely by prison investigators, Indiana State Police and the LaPorte County Prosecutor's Office.
After fielding questions from investigators, he was allowed to leave but could be arrested pending the outcome of the ongoing probe.
''We're taking a very serious and thorough look to get all of the information we possibly can to find out what the real intent was in this situation,'' said Schrader.
According to prison officials, Grupp Tuesday afternoon showed up at the facility's main gate to teach a regularly scheduled class, something he began doing on behalf of PNC this semester.
He was carrying a milk crate filled with books.
The materials were run through an X-ray machine as a routine security procedure and prison staff looking at the images noticed something unusual.
One of the books in the crate was opened up and inside were the hollowed out pages and gun along with three bullets lying beside the firearm, prison officials said. Schrader would not speculate if Grupp was trying to smuggle the gun to an offender or had it for personal protection.
Nevertheless, he said Grupp of West Lafayette has been banned from entering any prison in the state.
''That is probably going to be permanent,'' Schrader said.
PNC spokeswoman Carol Connelly would not reveal if any disciplinary action has been taken against Grupp, who belongs to the social sciences department at the campus near Westville.
''We are investigating the situation and we will handle it in accordance with university policy and procedures,'' she said.
PNC has other instructors who teach college classes at Westville Correctional Facility, a medium security prison.
WCF Superintendent William Wilson praised the security officers for undercovering the weapon.
''Though faced with the daunting task of checking literally hundreds of items and individuals entering the facility every day, they realize the importance of their duty and never drop their attention to detail. Their diligence in performing their duties prevented a significant threat to our security, Wilson said.
What an idiot!
How did this idiot think he could get this through an X-ray machine? Maybe he could have gotten a gun disguised as a pen in, and then sneak a bullet at a time in, but unless the X-ray operator had been fired by the TSA as too stupid for even them this could have never worked.
Clearly a book ban is required.
Looks like he’ll be working full time at Westville.
He probably bought a crate of books at a yard sale...
Yeah, that’s the story....etc.
I beleive so...
ie
Maybe someone switched the books.
Or, he is just an idiot
Probably just a gift for a friend or he didn’t know it was there , minor mistake you see, happens all the time.
Besides, it was a tiny little gun. (Just a few ideas for the defense)
What part-time instruction Jeffrey Grupp was doing...
&& Say what?! Proofreading not on this writer’s to-do list, apparently.
Schrader would not speculate if Grupp was trying to smuggle the gun to an offender or had it for personal protection.
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