An attempted strong armed robbery outside WVU ’s Evansdale Residential Complex around 3:30 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 25, resulted in the arrest of a suspect, a non student.

A WVU student reportedly gave a ride to a Charleston area resident, who then demanded his money and threatened him by saying he had a gun. The victim said he had no money, and asked the suspect to pull up to a ATM at the residence hall so that he could withdraw cash. That is when the victim escaped and alerted a nearby WVU Department of Public Safety officer, who pursued the suspect, arrested him and arraigned him on charges of attempted armed robbery. He is currently in the regional jail. No weapon was found.

WVU Public Safety reminds students and the general public not to pick up strangers. You are putting yourself in harms way when you allow a stranger to enter your vehicle, WVU Police Chief Bob Roberts said.