Police nab two armed robbery suspects

Police have arrested two men in conjunction with the recent string of robberies around campus, according to Police Chief Thomas Rambo.

UPPD officials arrested 25-year-old Rynell Montgomery, who is unaffiliated with the University, on the 2900 block of Chestnut Street on Thursday. Police had issued a warrant for his arrest in connection with two robberies, one on the 3900 block of Spruce Street, and the other at 40th and Baltimore streets.

"He has been charged with two counts of robbery, and also violation of the Uniform Firearms Act and other related offenses," Rambo said.

On Sept. 10, two men robbed a male student at approximately 1:45 a.m. on the 3900 block of Spruce Street with what was likely a handgun, according to University Police.

Following the incident, the student, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said that the men "were walking on either side of the sidewalk" so that he was forced to walk between them. As they approached, they made a comment he believes was, "Where are the ladies tonight?" as if they were "joking around," he said.

When he was in between the two men, the student said one of them pushed him against the wall and took his wallet. They then asked if he had anything else, and he turned over his cellular phone and a bag of books he had been carrying, he said. One of the men then exposed what appeared to be a handgun, the student said.

Rambo confirmed at the time that one of the males had an item that appeared to be a handgun.

Montgomery was also charged in conjunction with the robbery of a student that occurred on Aug. 30 at 40th and Baltimore streets, according to Rambo.

A second male was arrested on Monday in connection with a gunpoint robbery at 41st and Spruce streets, Rambo said. However, as the man has not yet been arraigned, no identifying information has been released.

"We had a warrant for his arrest and he turned himself in with his lawyer" on Monday, Rambo said, adding that the individual is expected to be arraigned by today.

The suspect is believed to be one of three men who robbed a male student at gunpoint early on the morning of Sept. 17 on the 4100 block of Spruce Street at around 12:18 a.m., according to the UPPD.

Following the incident, Vice President of Public Safety Maureen Rush explained that the student had been walking westbound on Spruce and 41st streets when three males approached him.

"They pointed a gun at him and told him to keep walking, and then they grabbed him, threw him against the wall and went into his pockets and took his wallet and his backpack. Before they left, they punched him in the jaw," Rush said.

Rambo said that investigations into these and other reported robberies remain ongoing.

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