Media Contact: Dave Shaffer | 217-403-7030 | [email protected]
On April 10, 2016 at approximately 10:33 PM, Champaign Police responded to the area of 500 E. Clark St. after receiving a report of an Armed Robbery to a pedestrian in the area. With assistance from University of Illinois Student Patrol and UI Police, officers were able to locate and apprehend the suspect shortly after the crime.
Arrested was 19-year-old Jordan D. Smith of Champaign. Smith, who was also arrested in February of this year for Unlawful Use of Weapons and other offenses, faces charges of Armed Robbery and Defacing the Identification Marks of a Firearm.
On the evening of April 10, Smith reportedly approached the victim with a handgun and demanded money. When the victim claimed to have none, Smith demanded and took the victim’s cell phone, then fled the scene.
Officers from the Champaign Police Department and the University of Illinois Police Department searched the area of the scene in an attempt to locate the suspect. University of Illinois Student Patrol heard the dispatch and was able to keep suspect surveillance to successfully provide location updates for Police.
Smith fled the scene as officers approached, and after a short foot pursuit was taken into custody without further incident. The victim identified Smith, and the victim’s cell phone and a handgun were recovered by officers.
Although an arrest has been made, this investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information related to this incident is asked to please contact the Champaign Police Department Investigations Division at 217-351-4545.
Information can also be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers. Crime Stoppers calls are routed to a third-party national call center that receives the information, completes a tips information form, and passes the tip to the appropriate law enforcement agency. Caller ID tracking is not utilized by Crime Stoppers and conversations are not recorded.
Anonymous tips can be shared by phone at: 217-373-8477 (TIPS); online at www.373tips.com; or by texting “CCTIP” plus the crime information to 274637 (CRIMES).