Adjunct ethics professor and doctoral student Leamon Bazil was taken into custody on campus Tuesday, after a federal grand jury last week issued two federal indictments against him for the intent to distribute crack cocaine and the intent to distribute marijuana.
Jack Titone, director of the Department of Public Safety, said that detectives with the St. Louis Police Department Area 3 Narcotics Division contacted the University last week to inform them of the indictments and that they would be trying to locate Bazil.
When the detectives failed to reach Bazil at his home, they asked DPS to see if he showed up for class on Tuesday. When he did, Titone and Officer Gary Gray met him at the classroom entrance in McGannon Hall.
Titone asked Bazil to come with him to Titone’s office for some questioning. After getting in an unmarked DPS car, Bazil was taken to DuBourg Hall and allowed to contact his lawyer and family.
“We tried to keep this as low-key as possible,” Titone said, noting that Bazil was cooperative in the matter.
When the detectives arrived, they placed Bazil under arrest.
Titone explained that the investigation had been ongoing and that Bazil already had obtained a lawyer. He added that the detectives assured Titone that the alleged crimes were not affiliated in any way with the University.
Titone noted that it is not uncommon for DPS to be asked to help the police department bring employees or students in for questioning. He said that having DPS assist is better than having the police show up on campus and embarrassing someone.
Bazil had been with the University as a graduate student seeking his doctorate since 1994. After having philosophy fellowships and several other research fellowships across the University, Bazil was hired as an adjunct professor of ethics while he completed his dissertation, set to be finished this May.
“He was one of the most liked members of our department among the graduate students,” said Theodore Vitali, C.P, chair of the department of philosophy. “He was a good teacher, from everything I can tell.”
Vitali said he was shocked to learn about the situation last Friday when Provost Joe Weixlmann instructed him not to permit Bazil to return to his class Tuesday.
On Tuesday, students were informed class was cancelled and a new teacher would be in class Thursday.
Junior Eliza Drown was walking to class when she saw Bazil getting into the car with DPS. “He seemed like a really good professor,” Drown said. “He made us think.”
Sophomore Katie Gilligan was surprised to learn about the arrest. “I thought it was kind of ironic for an ethics teacher,” she said.
Vitali explained that he is working to bring in another adjunct professor to fill the position. He added that the department will be working closely with the new professor, to assure that the students in the course are treated fairly.
