PENNINGTON, N.J. -- University of Richmond officials say a suspect has been arrested in connection with a lockdown that left the school closed for four hours Tuesday.
The suspect, 19-year-old Seth Adam Newman of the 1700 block of Chadwick Drive in Henrico County, was allegedly seen carrying a handgun Tuesday in Boatwright Memorial Library.
University of Richmond Chief of Police Bob Dillard said through university spokeswoman Linda Evans that police had recovered a pellet gun on campus they "are certain" Newman was carrying Tuesday. It was not immediately clear where police found the firearm.
Newman has been charged with one felony count for hiding his identity and two misdemeanor counts for impersonating a law enforcement officer and for acting like a law enforcement officer, according to a university statement. Police said he was being held on $10,000 bond, but declined to give specifics about the circumstances surrounding the arrest. Police said they had not encountered him before.
"I was very impressed with the cooperation beyween the three jurisdictions and the quick arrest," Evans said. "We are very grateful for the amount of information that came in from the community."
A MySpace page for a 19-year-old Seth Newman from Richmond, Va., showed a photo of a man matching the description of the suspect, but university officials said they could not confirm whether it was the same person.
The Richmond Times-Dispatch was reporting Wednesday that an employee at the Exxon gas station on the corner of Three Chopt Road and Patterson Avenue saw the suspect Tuesday.
Employees at the library spotted a suspect matching Newman's description around 3 p.m. Tuesday near the circulation desk, school officials said. He was wearing a holster with a handgun, a bucket hat, a brown jacket with the word "Sheriff" printed on the back, and carrying a green duffel bag, authorities said. When employees asked for identification, he declined to give it.
Police said that tips from the community began coming around 3 p.m. Tuesday and continued through the night and Wednesday, which they said helped tremendously in tracking down Newman.
(Collegian staff writer Dan Petty reported this story from Pennington, N.J.)
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