WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — A Purdue University student was beaten and robbed outside Tarkington Hall around midnight Saturday (Dec. 19).

According to Purdue police, a man approached the student and asked to use his cell phone. After the man had the cell phone, he struck the victim before fleeing the area in a black SUV driven by another person.

The victim, who sustained minor injuries, described the attacker as white man in his early 20s with short brown hair and a medium build. He was approximately 5 feet 10 inches tall and was wearing a dark-colored T-shirt and jeans. According to police, no weapons were displayed during the incident.

People are advised to avoid the area and to contact the Purdue Police Department at 765-494-8221 with any additional information.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University police are looking for a man involved in an attempted robbery that occurred Wednesday (June 24) in a gravel parking lot north of the Marsteller Street Parking Garage.

A woman was in the parking lot at about 5:00p when she was approached by a man who motioned that he wanted her purse. When he attempted to grab the purse, she fled to her car and left. She was not injured.

The suspect left the area heading south toward Wood Street. He was described as being dark-skinned and 18 to 22 years old with shaggy hair. He was wearing a blue polo short and gray shorts.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Purdue Police Department at 765-494-8221.

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The Lafayette Police Department along with the FBI have identified and arrested William Ray Hagood for the June 1, 2009 robbery of the Bank of Indiana located at 5 Executive Drive.

Hagood currently is in custody in Putnam County, Tennessee for warrants unrelated to the Lafayette Bank of Indiana robbery. Hagood is also suspected in two robberies in or around the Putnam County, Tennessee area.

After receiving a tip from the public, Hagood was identified as a possible suspect. Information developed after his arrest in Tennessee link Hagood to Lafayette robbery.

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The Lafayette Police Department responded to a report of a bank robbery at the Bank of Indiana on Executive Drive on the city’s east side (across from Caterpillar on SR26).

According to a statement released by the police department, the suspect entered the bank and presented a note stating this was a robbery and then fled the bank on foot with an undisclosed amount of money. The suspect description is a white male, mid 20’s, 150-180 lbs, approximately 5’8”-6’ feet tall.

Security cameras caught the man on tape and show the suspect wearing a blue long sleeved dress shirt, a white cap, blue jeans and white tennis shoes. The suspect fled the bank on foot to the east.

No weapon was displayed and there were no injuries.

Anyone with information should contact the Lafayette Police Department detective section at 765-807-1250 or the WeTip hotline at 1-800-782-7463.

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — On Saturday, April 25, 2009 at approximately 10:55 p.m. Tippecanoe County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to Bedrock Liquors at 2525 State Road 25 West in Shadeland, Indiana in reference to a report of an armed robbery.

The suspect described as a white male, fifty-five (55) to sixty-five (65) years of age, entered the store and displayed what appeared to be the handle of a knife. The suspect fled the store with an undetermined amount of cash, cigarettes, and alcohol and was last seen driving towards West Point in a black vehicle.

According to Sheriff’s Detective Thomas Lehman, a tip from WeTip hotline has resulted in the arrest of Richard Stair, age forty-six (46) of East Main Street, Linden, Indiana. Stair was booked into the Tippecanoe County Jail just after 4:00p this afternoon on a charge of Robbery as a Class B Felony (I.C. 35-42-5-1). Stair is also being held on an unrelated warrant that was issued from Tippecanoe County Superior Court 6 (79D06-0901-CM-000212) on March 5, 2009. Stair had been arrested by a Tippecanoe County Sheriff’s Deputy on January 18, 2009 for Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated and he failed to appear for an initial hearing that was scheduled in February. Stair is currently being held in the Tippecanoe County Jail on a bond of $25,500.00. Detective Lehman was assisted by Detective Sergeant James D. Caldwell

Detective Lehman credits the WeTip program for pointing the investigation in the right direction. According to Lehman, “the anonymous tips from the program allow citizens to partner with law enforcement in crime fighting efforts. This saves time and resources and ultimately makes our community safer.”

The WeTip Program was launched by Tippecanoe County Prosecutor Pat Harrington’s Office in June of 2008. Citizens can report criminal activity anonymously by calling WeTip at 800-78-CRIME. In addition, tips can be submitted online at the WeTip website at www.wetip.com.