KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — UPDATE (10/28, 10:35 a.m.) -
The Knoxville Police Department said it arrested two people in connection to a string of robberies or attempted robberies, including three in the Fort Sanders area early Sunday morning.
Twenty-five-year-old Brandon Donathan and 24-year-old Sarai Stanridge were taken into custody after an attempted West Knoxville robbery Sunday afternoon, according to KPD.
Around 4:10 p.m., KPD officers responded to the Luscombe Drive and Pocanno Road area, where it was reported that a man wearing all black attempted to rob a person at gunpoint. The suspect ran and got into a white sedan following the attempted robbery, KPD said.
Another person witnessed the attempt and got a video of the suspect and the sedan. The person also saw the suspect toss a gun into nearby bushes, according to KPD.
The police department said later on officers saw the suspected sedan traveling west on Luscombe Drive. The sedan was stopped and both Donathan and Standridge were arrested, police say.
Through further questioning, detectives were able to connect Donathan and Standridge to three robberies near the University of Tennessee campus, including one the UT Police Department issued an emergency alert for at 2 a.m. Sunday, according to KPD.
In that robbery, Donathan and Standridge allegedly robbed a 22-year-old woman of her purse, KPD said.
The two other robberies weren't reported to KPD until Sunday afternoon. A male victim reported that Donathan attempted to rob him at gunpoint in the area of Clinch Avenue and 22nd Street at around 1:10 a.m. Twenty minutes later, a female victim reported that a man also identified as Donathan, attempted to rob her at gunpoint in the area of Clinch Avenue and 17th Street around 1:30 a.m. on Sunday, according to KPD.
Donathan and Standridge were both charged with attempted aggravated robbery for the Luscombe Drive incident. Donathan was also charged with multiple additional counts of robbery or attempted robbery, as well as possession of a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony. Standridge is expected to face additional charges, KPD said.
------
PREVIOUS (10/27, 5:27 a.m.) -
Police are looking for an armed suspect after a robbery near the University of Tennessee's campus.
The University of Tennessee Police Department (UTPD) issued an emergency alert a little after 2 a.m. on Sunday saying there was a robbery at 11th Street and Cumberland Avenue.
According to Knoxville Police, officers responded to the 1100 block of Cumberland Avenue around 1:45 a.m. The victim, a 22-year-old woman reports that she was walking on Cumberland Avenue near 11th Street when she was approached by a male occupant of a white sedan wearing all black.
Police say the suspect reportedly demanded the woman's money before, armed with a handgun, fleeing toward Neyland Drive on the Third Creek Greenway with the woman's purse.
Responding KPD and UTPD officers canvassed the area but have been unable to locate the man or the white sedan he had reportedly approached the victim in, KPD says.
Officials are urging people to "use caution" and report any suspicious activity on or around campus by calling 865-974-3114. Anyone with information regarding the incident is also urged to contact East Tennessee Valley Crime Stoppers anonymously at 865-215-7165.