Alleged robber with syringe caught by U. of I. crowd

3/20/2010 9:40:00 AM
By: The Associated Press

URBANA, Ill. (AP) _ People on campus at the University of Illinois captured a syringe-wielding robber and held him until police arrived. University spokesman Jeff Unger says the 20-year-old man was arrested on campus about 2:20 p.m. Friday. The man has been preliminarily charged with robbery, aggravated battery and possession of a syringe.

Authorities say the suspect lives in Urbana but isn't a student. Unger said the alleged robber snatched a woman's purse and ran through the quad. He was chased by a number of people, who he threatened to stab. But they managed to restrain the robber until police arrived.     Police aren't sure what if anything was in the syringe. No one was injured.

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