Valparaiso University student arrested in hostage hoax

VALAPARAISO, Ind. (AP) – A Valparaiso University student faces charges for allegedly calling police and falsely claiming he was armed and had taken hostages in a campus library.

Valparaiso police say 20-year-old Michael Clemens of Chesterton was arrested Tuesday night on the campus about 15 miles southeast of Gary.

Police say Clemens acknowledged calling police about 7 p.m. Tuesday and saying he had a gun and had taken hostages at a campus library.

Police evacuated the library and students were ordered to “shelter in place” during an hours-long campus alert.

Police spokesman Sgt. Mike Grennes says Clemens faces preliminary felony charges of intimidation and false reporting causing an evacuation. He was released from jail after posting bond.

A county prosecutor’s office spokesman says the office doesn’t know if Clemens has an attorney.