SYRACUSE -- After five late night robberies this weekend, Syracuse University Department of Public Safety and Syracuse Police Department teamed up to make multiple arrests.
At 10:21 p.m. on Saturday at 560 Clarendon Avenue, a 20 year old Syracuse University student told police he was walking west on Clarendon Avenue when he encountered two black men walking towards him. As the two men approached, the student was surrounded on each side, and one of the suspects hit him in the mouth. The student was knocked to the ground and kicked in his head and ribs, and one of the suspects reached into the student's pocket and took cash. The two men fled the scene, traveling west on Clarenden Avenue towards Ostrum Avenue. The student refused medical treatment. This case is still under investigation, and nobody has been charged at this time.
The second robbery occurred at 10:45 p.m. Saturday at Fellows and Euclid Avenue. A male and female Syracuse University graduate student told police they were assaulted and robbed of an iPhone, cash, credit cards and a purse. Savon O'Neal, 19, Shaquille Kinsey, 17, and Jakyree Dinkins, 18, all of Syracuse, were arrested.
The third robbery occurred at 10:50 p.m. Saturday on the 400 block of Stratford Avenue. A 20 year old male Syracuse University student told police he was assaulted and robbed of cash, jewelry and a debit card. The student suffered a broken nose and a chipped tooth. O'Neal, Kinsey and Dinkins were also arrested in this incident.
The fourth robbery occurred at 11:30 p.m. at the 700 block of Burnet Ave. A 24 year old man told police he was punched from behind, knocked to the ground and had his cigarettes and keys stolen, but was not injured. This incident is still under investigation and police say they will be following up with the victim. No arrest has been made in this case.
The fifth robbery occurred at 12:18 a.m Sunday at 226 Roosevelt Ave. A 20 year old male SUNY ESF student says he was walking south on Roosevelt Avenue when he noticed three black men following him. He said the men followed him until he got to 226 Roosevelt Avenue, which is when they confronted him. One of the men asked the student if he had a lighter, another demanded his wallet, and the student refused and fought back. The suspects stopped their attack and fled north on Roosevelt Avenue. Nothing was taken from the student, and he refused medical treatment. The student was also able to identify one of the suspects as Savon O'Neal.
The suspects in all of the above incidents were three black males in their late teens or early twenties. Two were wearing black hooded sweatshirts, and one was wearing a maroon hooded sweatshirt. They were seen getting out of a light colored minivan.
O'Neal, Kinsey and Dinkins, reportedly involved with most of the incidents above, were arrested at 12:35 a.m. on Sunday. At that time, Syracuse University DPS Officer Gabriell observed a grey minivan on the corner of Madison Street and Ostrom Avenue. He then saw a black man wearing a maroon hooded sweatshirt run across the street and get into the passenger side of the minivan. The man fit the description of one of the suspects from above, and the minivan was stopped in front of 1226 East Water Street. DPS then waited at the scene until Syracuse Police arrived. Syracuse Police took over the call, and proceeds from several robberies were found in the minivan. All three suspects are being held in the Onondaga County Justice Center pending arraignment in Syracuse City Court.
Police say the investigation into all of these robberies are active and ongoing, and that anyone with information on these incidents is asked to contact Syracuse Police at 442-5222. All calls will be kept strictly confidential.
