'Armed Robbery' Of UT-Austin Student Leads To Arrest

AUSTIN, TX — Police arrested a man alleged to have committed armed robbery against a UT-Austin student on Wednesday afternoon, but later released him when the person who called them refused to cooperate in the investigation, officials said.

The incident occurred at 1:45 p.m. at 709 W. 22nd St., campus police said in a press advisory. University police responded to the West Campus Liquor Store to assist in an investigation in conjunction with their Austin Police Department counterparts, according to the campus police advisory.

Austin Police Department officers were able to locate the suspect, promptly arresting him. As a result, "There is no ongoing threat to the community," campus police assured. The type of weapon used in the holdup was not specified.

But then, things get complicated. In a statement to media outlets issued just past 6:33 p.m., Austin police said the complainant — the student who called police to begin with — clammed up after officers arrived. And although he claimed the suspect was armed with a firearm, police said no gun was located on the suspect nor in his vehicle.

As a result from the lack of cooperation with police from the purported crime victim, the suspect was released: "There are no suspects in this case, since the complainant does not wish to continue or cooperate with the investigation," police said in an email. "The subject was released from the scene."

Police suggested the incident was the culmination of a drug deal gone bad: "A party involved admitted this was over drugs," police wrote. "No injuries were reported."

Shortly before the incident, a Chase Bank branch at 1904 Guadalupe St. was robbed for the second time in recent days — leading some to think the two incidents were related. Police disabused such theorists of the notion: "This incident is not related to the Chase Bank robbery that occurred earlier today," officials wrote in their press advisory.

Related story: Bank Across From UT-Austin Robbed 2nd Time In 2 Weeks

The incident marks the second time in 10 days a robbery-related call has been made to police involving a UT-Austin student in the same vicinity. On Saturday, Oct. 5, a UT-Austin student was robbed after being approached by a man threatening her with violence unless she gave him money, campus police said at the time.

According to an advisory by the UT police department, the student said a man believed to be transient approached her along the 300 block of West 21st Street near Guadalupe Street at 2:20 p.m. demanding cash. The woman told police she handed the man her debit card before running home to call police. The man later was located before being placed under arrest.

Related story: UT-Austin Student Reportedly Mugged By Transient

While police continue to investigate the latest incident, they urge anyone with information on the incident to contact detectives at (512) 974-2000 if you have any information about this crime.

As they do each time there is an incident related to crime, UT-Austin police provided links to college community members who are victimized by crime:

• Student Emergency Services supports students who have been or know someone who has been a victim of a crime on or off campus. For those services click: http://deanofstudents.utexas.edu/emergency/victimservices.php.
• The Victims Advocate Network supports UT employees who have been the victim of a crime. For more information visit: https://police.utexas.edu/services/victims-advocate-network