Public Safety
Incident Alerts
Off-Campus Armed Robbery -- Update: 4/15/13 | 12:15 p.m.
The following letter was sent to the Susquehanna community from President L. Jay Lemons.
Dear Susquehannans,
As you are aware, 12 of our students were victimized by two armed robbers who entered an off-campus apartment on South Market Street during the early morning hours of Saturday, April 13. Please keep these students in your thoughts and prayers. The memory of that traumatic experience will no doubt remain with them for a very long time. My hope is that these students will experience the warm embrace of the campus community during this difficult time.
As well, because Susquehanna is a close-knit community, this incident has impacted others. It is also an important time to take stock. Although Selinsgrove is a very safe community, we can never take safety for granted. I encourage all of our students to stay alert and to report immediately any suspicious behavior to the university’s Department of Public Safety (570-372-4444) or the Selinsgrove Police Department (570-374-8655).
This is also time to remind members of the campus community of the free EMERGENSEE Personal Security System smart phone app that is available to all students, faculty, and staff. The app runs on all smart phones and tablets equipped with iOS (iPhones and iPads) and on all Android phones. It functions as a “virtual escort” or “blue light in your pocket” that can instantly connect the user with our Public Safety Office. In addition to live video, audio and GPS location information, EmergenSeeU features real-time text communication with public safety, via instant alerts sent to students, parents and other family members identified by the student. For more information, please visit www.EmergenSeeU.com.
Tom Garlock, chief of the Selinsgrove Police Department, took a short break last night from the investigation to meet with campus personnel. As the incident occurred in the borough, they are the lead agency for the investigation. Chief Garlock shared that they are receiving significant support from other law enforcement agencies in this investigation. While the police are aggressively pursuing leads, we were cautioned that incidents like this brazen act often result in complicated and lengthy investigations. I am appreciative of the investigation that Chief Garlock and his department are leading. Moreover, I am impressed by the resources and resolve he is bringing to this case.
Our Student Life staff and university counselors have been and are available to talk with the students involved, as well as others. As always, you can reach the counseling staff by calling 570-372-4751 during the week or 570-374-9164 on evenings and weekends. Our campus security forces have been increased as a precaution as have been those of the borough police department.
My appreciation for the sense of community here at Susquehanna is always fortified in the face of challenges. During this time of challenge, please draw near to one another in support of those students who were directly involved in this incident. It is up to all of us to work together to assure the safety and security for all members of the campus community that is such an integral part of our identity and the learning environment.
Sincerely,
L. Jay Lemons
Off-Campus Armed Robbery -- Update: 4/14/13 | 8:30 a.m.
Susquehanna University President L. Jay Lemons and other university staff met with the Selinsgrove Police chief Saturday to talk about the early-Saturday-morning armed robbery. The Selinsgrove Police Department continues to work with other law-enforcement agencies to investigate the off-campus incident. Additional officers are on patrol for the borough and the university has hired additional security as a precaution. Police report there were no additional incidents Saturday night into Sunday.
Campus counseling has been offered to the students involved in the incident, as well as others.
The incident occurred shortly before 12:20 a.m. Saturday at an apartment on South Market Street in Selinsgrove. Twelve students were robbed during the incident and one of them was injured. The injured student was treated and released from Geisinger Medical Center.
Off-Campus Armed Robbery -- Update: 4/13/13 | 7:25 p.m.
There is a correction to the police report posted at 6:15 today: The victim who needed medical attention was treated and released from Geisinger Medical Center, not Sunbury Community Hospital as initially reported by Selinsgrove Police.
Off-Campus Armed Robbery -- Update: 4/13/13 | 6:15 p.m.
Following is a news release disseminated this afternoon by the Selinsgrove Police Department, which is investigating the off-campus incident that occurred just before 12:20 a.m. Saturday, April 13:
Police were notified of an apparent armed robbery/home invasion, occurring in the 100 block of S. Market Street of Selinsgrove. A resident of an apartment on that street notified police that two male suspects entered his apartment as he and approximately 11 other students were gathered. One suspect was armed with a pump shotgun, and the other armed with a suspected semi-automatic handgun. The suspects commanded the victims to the floor and instructed them to produce their cell phones and wallets. These were gathered by the suspect.
The suspects encountered three female visitors in the bathroom of the apartment, and in the process of forcibly robbing them, the actor with the shotgun struck one female in the head with the butt stock of the shotgun, causing injury. That victim was later treated and released from Sunbury Community Hospital.
Name of the victims are being withheld by police at this time.
In accordance with safety procedures, Susquehanna University executed a lockdown of their campus after police were notified. This was lifted later in the morning.
The suspects are described as:
- #1: Black male, approximate age 18 to 28, 6’1 to 6’2 in height, medium to muscular build. Believed to have been wearing dark or camouflaged shirt/jacket, lighter-colored pants. Armed with a dark-colored metal pump action shotgun.
- #2: Black male, approximate age 18 to 28, 5’10 to 6’, medium to slender build. Believed to have been wearing dark shirt/jacket/or hoodie, green camouflaged pants. Armed with a dark metal semi-automatic handgun.
Both suspects were wearing either ski-type masks or coverings over their faces, obstructing view of the nose and mouth. The suspects fled the residence to Market Street, and were last seen running east on E. Bough Street.
Selinsgrove Police request that anyone with information concerning this incident, contact the Selinsgrove Police Department at 570-374-8655.
Off-Campus Armed Robbery -- Update: 4/13/13 | 4 p.m.
The university's Office of Public Safety and Selinsgrove Borough police received a report that five to eight students were robbed at gunpoint during an invasion of a South Market Street apartment in Selinsgrove just before 12:20 a.m. Saturday, April 13. Cell phones, wallets and money were taken. One student received medical treatment for an injury sustained in the incident, but was released and has returned to campus.
Campus was placed on lockdown shortly after the incident was reported. The lockdown was lifted after borough police advised it was safe to do so. During the lockdown, Residence Life staff were stationed at residence hall doors to let students in after checking for campus IDs.
Although this was an off-campus incident, security has been stepped up on campus as a precaution, and as always, we encourage all students to take safety measures. We also encourage the use of EmergenSeeU, a service that offers instant alerts. More information can be found at www.EmergenSeeU.com.
Borough police continue to investigate this off-campus incident. Anyone with information should call 570-374-8655 or 911. Counseling services are available to students who need them.
Updates will be posted here as new information becomes available.
Off-Campus Robbery Reported -- Update: 4/13/13 | 3:30 a.m.
Five to eight students were robbed at gunpoint at the corner of Market and University avenues shortly before 12:20 a.m. Saturday, April 13.. Cell phones, wallets and money were taken. No injuries were reported at the time Selinsgrove Borough Police and the university's Department of Public Safety were made aware of the incident.
Campus was placed on lockdown shortly after the incident was reported. The lockdown was lifted after borough police advised it was safe to do so. During the lockdown, Residence Life staff were stationed at residence hall doors to let students in after checking for campus ID's.
Borough police continue to investigate this off-campus incident. Anyone with information should call 570-374-8655 or 911.
Operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week, Susquehanna University’s Department of Public Safety strives to maintain a safe campus atmosphere for students, faculty, staff and visitors. In addition to security, law enforcement and investigation, the department is involved in proactive efforts including disaster recovery planning and ongoing training programs.
To assist our campus community in being prepared for man-made or natural disasters, below are additional links to both PEMA (Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency) and FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) websites. These sites have been helpful guides for preparing emergencies and can assist you in becoming prepared before emergencies occur. While these sites can assist you in being personally prepared, you should follow all Susquehanna University SMS text alerts and the public address/warning siren.
- www.fema.gov
- www.pema.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/pema_home/4463
- www.ready.gov/america/index.html
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