By Kimberly Miller
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Employees of the Corner Cafe in the lower level of McClelland Hall had more excitement then they bargained for yesterday afternoon when an armed robber stole $130 from the cafe's cash register.
Police are looking for a Caucasian male in his 20s described as 5-feet-10-inches tall, with a medium build and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing gray shorts, sneakers and carrying a green backpack.
Employees told police the suspect entered the empty cafe around 1 p.m. and proceeded to reach into the cash register. When a female employee noticed him she screamed for help and grabbed at his backpack. The suspect managed to leave the store but was pursued by a male employee and a customer.
When the employee had almost reached the suspect he allegedly turned around, grabbed a black semi-automatic weapon out of the waistband of his pants and pointed it at the employee. The employee told police the suspect made several threatening statements to him before turning and fleeing up the steps to Speedway Boulevard.
He was last seen at the bus stop near the Architecture Building on East Speedway Boulevard.
The robbery prompted Michael Low, the interim director of the Student Union, to call for additional employee training.
"I think what this obviously shows is that we need to conduct additional training because I'm very disappointed that one of our employees gave chase to the subject," Low said. "I'm not being critical of the employee. I appreciate his devotion, but $130 is just not worth losing your life over."
UAPD Sgt. Brian Seastone said police were on the scene within minutes but were unable to locate the suspect.
Anyone with information pertaining to this robbery is asked to call UAPD at 621-8273.