Five Charged After Breaking

Source: Radio One / Radio One

INDIANAPOLIS — Police arrested five people after they broke into a historic Jewish temple on the near north side of Indianapolis to film a music video.

Authorities say the group shattered a glass door to enter the Beth-El temple. Officers arrived to find several people, some armed, fleeing the building. Inside, police recovered a gun and camera equipment.

“Officers arrived and immediately, once they arrived, an adult male took off running from the location,” said IMPD Officer Drew Brown. “He was quickly apprehended. Other responding officers went to the temple and apprehended several other individuals.”

The Indiana Landmarks Foundation, which owns the synagogue at 34th and Ruckle Streets, said the building is the oldest Jewish site in Indianapolis and has been vacant for years.

The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places and opened in 1925, with then-Gov. Edward Jackson in attendance.

“I doubt the average person knows what the building was in terms of its historic use,” said Mark Dollase with Indiana Landmarks. “It ceased being a Jewish temple in 1968.”

Neighbors said the property rarely attracted trouble until this past weekend. Damage from the break-in was repaired Monday, though officials have not determined if anything inside was harmed.

“We’ve secured those openings,” Dollase added. “Nobody should’ve been able to get in in the first place.”

The suspects face misdemeanor trespassing charges. It remains unclear if the music video will be completed.