On Feb. 1, a "timely notification" went out to all students on campus stating that two days prior at 5:47 p.m., an "armed robbery occurred in front of 15 Blaine Avenue."  The suspect had been described as a black male, 18-21 years old, 6' tall, thin build and wearing a red hoody, baggy jeans and black sneakers with white soles.  

Following the crime, Canisius College Public Safety ramped up its presence in the corridors of Jefferson, Main and Delevan with four cars patrolling, watching everybody that walked by.  They figured if the suspect was able to walk away with a $600 phone once, "he might be back."  

Sounds like their hunch may have been right too.

On Feb. 2 at 12:30 p.m., Director of Public Safety Gary Everett received a call that a man, consistent with the suspect's description, was spotted on the corner of East Delevan by a patrolling officer.  Officer Becker, who usually works the night shift, came in on daytime in a special details car.  He was the one who spotted the suspect and called in to Everett.  

Everett then radioed Buffalo police and they sent three cars to investigate.  They handcuffed the suspect without incident and brought him in for further questioning.  He was wearing a red hooded sweatshirt with a Cincinnati Reds emblem on the chest and black sneakers with white soles.  He is 22-years-old and lives in the area, but Everett is keeping specifics close to his chest until an arrest is made.  

The victim of a crime like this can only be brought in to identify a suspect within an hour or two of the incident.  The student involved in the armed robbery, consequently, will be asked to choose the suspect out of a random photo array instead.  The victim assured Everett that they could identify the guilty party properly.

 "We have a good feeling about this guy.  Buffalo police has a good feeling about this guy.  Right now he's a person of interest, but hopefully within the next 24 hours he'll be arrested for this crime," Everett stated.  

Everett urges all students to remain vigilant despite the identification.

"They should always be aware that if someone asks to use their phone, just tell them the battery is dead."  

Apparently this particular type of crime has been going on in different parts of the city for so long that "now we suggest you say that you don't have a phone or the battery is dead.  It's unfortunate that you can't help somebody, but you don't want to become a victim of the crime itself."