An unknown man robbed a University student at gunpoint Tuesday morning, police said.
The student departed the SuperAmerica gas station in Prospect Park at about 6 a.m., walking south, Minneapolis Police Lt. Amelia Huffman said.
At the intersection of Emerald Street Southeast and University Avenue Southeast, a man got out of a dark-colored, four-door car and approached the student, Huffman said.
Huffman said the unknown suspect threatened to kill the student and demanded his cell phone. The suspect then pulled out a handgun.
The student handed over his phone, and the suspect fled the scene.
There was no unique identifying information about the suspect or his vehicle, Huffman said.
“I’m sure the victim was plenty scared and was concentrating on getting through this encounter,” she said, “and not really paying attention to the details: makes and models of cars.”
The case has been assigned to Minneapolis’ robbery unit for further investigation, Huffman said.
Damage at Northrop
Someone found a way into Northrop Auditorium over the weekend and damaged property, according to a police report.
Mike Damman, a stage manager for Northrop, said three doors were left open Friday night and by Monday, the roll-top cover on the pit organ was broken.
“They got into the organ shaft and probably tried to play the organ,” he said. “And (they) lifted the cover and broke the roll-top cover.”
Outside, a window on one of the trailers belonging to the construction company currently sprucing up the auditorium’s face was broken, Damman said.
Steve Johnson, deputy chief of University police, said the damage done to the organ cover totaled about $2,000.
“If somebody thought it was just a prank,” he said, “it’s not.”
Damman said people are constantly trying to get into the building. He said he’s heard people tugging on doors to the building at all times of the night.
“If you get one open, then they’ll come in and look around,” Damman said. “If it’s the wrong person, they’ll do something bad.”
Nothing was taken from Northrop, and police are looking for people with any information to assist with the investigation, Johnson said.
Drunk driver flees police
A woman sped past a University police officer going 51 mph on Washington Avenue Southeast early Saturday, police said.
The officer pulled the vehicle over near Union Street Southeast and approached the car. Johnson said the driver looked at the officer and accelerated away, heading east.
He said the officer sprinted back to his squad car and pursued the woman for about three blocks to Ontario Street Southeast.
Once pulled over for the second time, the officer threatened to break the driver’s side window because the woman refused to open it, Johnson said. The officer then removed the woman from the vehicle and arrested her for fleeing an officer.
According to Johnson, the woman admitted to having “four drinks” and smelled strongly of alcohol. The officer issued a Breathalyzer test, and the woman blew a .21, more than twice the legal limit of .08.
She was charged with a gross misdemeanor DWI because she was driving on a revoked license after a previous conviction in 2004, Johnson said.