Police: IUP officer fires shot at knife-wielding student who made fake 911 call
INDIANA, Pa. (KDKA) -- An IUP officer fired a shot at a student who was wielding a knife after he placed a fake call to 911 reporting a robbery suspect on campus Sunday night, according to authorities.
Pennsylvania State Police said the suspect, 19-year-old Cameron Raubaugh of Pittsburgh, called 911 around 9:30 p.m. Sunday and reported a fake robbery. Raubaugh told 911 that the suspect had a knife, was wearing all black and was in the George P. Miller Stadium parking lot.
Police said Indiana University of Pennsylvania officers were dispatched and found Raubaugh at the scene, dressed in all black and armed with a knife.
According to state police, Raubaugh charged at one of the officers and pushed the officer down. Police said the officer fired one shot. No one was hit, and Raubaugh ran away.
Troopers and Indiana police officers responded to help, and as a foot chase continued, police said a responding officer used a Taser and took Raubaugh into custody in the area of Grant Street.
As Raubaugh was arrested, police said a trooper found a knife and ski mask on him.
During the investigation, police said they determined Raubaugh intentionally assaulted the IUP police officer while armed with a knife in an attempt to get the officer to shoot him. He's charged with aggravated assault, simple assault, false reports to law enforcement authorities and possessing instruments of crime.
The university confirmed Raubaugh is a student.
State police said there are no other suspects and there is no threat to the public or IUP community.
Because an officer fired a weapon, the Pennsylvania State Police were called in to continue the investigation.
Raubaugh is in the Indiana County Jail. Bail was denied. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Nov. 8.
