A robbery without a weapon at the Sheraton Hotel on 3549 Chestnut Street prompted a UPenn Alert at around 12:50 a.m. early Monday morning. A subsequent "all clear" alert was sent out approximately 30 minutes later.
Sent via email, text and posted on the Division of Public Safety's website, the alert indicated that the suspect was last seen inside the hotel, but that police were on the scene and patrolling the area.
At the time of the event, the DPS alert described the suspect as a middle-aged black male, approximately 5'10 to 6 feet tall, with a muscular build and short cropped hair. It also indicated the suspect was wearing a black jacket.
At 7 a.m. on Monday, DPS said in a statement to The Daily Pennsylvanian that around midnight the previous night, a student was approached by the suspect who attempted to take her bookbag away from her. After a tussle, the suspect fled.
Penn Police later found the suspect after searching the hotel, DPS said. At 8 a.m., DPS sent out an alert confirming that the suspect was in police custody.
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