Sunday at 9:38 p.m., in the parking lot of George P. Miller Stadium, the police responded to a false allegation of a robbery attempt. When IUP police arrived, the caller accosted one of the responding officers. The officer fired a single shot from their weapon, and another officer on the site arrested the suspect. Nobody was injured as a result of the incident.
At 11:11 p.m., IUP students were notified via email and text message that the suspect was apprehended “immediately” and that there was no ongoing threat to other students. On Monday morning, an initial report was sent out, followed by an update on Monday afternoon. Cliff Greenfield, the Pennsylvania State Police’s media contact, distributed both.
The IUP Police responded to a dispatch about a robbery in the parking lot, according to the reports. The suspect falsely reported that a robbery had occurred in the parking lot. The suspect characterized the thief as a person wearing all-black clothing and carrying a knife. Apparently, the suspect described himself.
The suspect attacked the responding officer with a knife and shoved him to the ground. The officer discharged their weapon, causing the suspect to flee on foot. Using their taser, a second responding officer apprehended the suspect.
The suspect was identified as a Pittsburgh-based IUP student aged 19 years old. The defendant was arraigned in the Indiana County Jail pending trial. His parole was not granted. The charges against him include aggravated assault, ordinary assault, and filing a false police report.
There are no additional suspects, and there is no active threat.
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