UI Hawk Alert issued for man with knife seen near residence hall entrance

The University of Iowa Department of Public Safety said Wednesday morning that it has determined the campus is safe after university police investigated reports of an older white man with a knife in the vicinity of Catlett Residence Hall.

Starting at approximately 8:15 p.m., the campus issued a series of alerts warning those on campus that a man a blue shirt and khaki pants was seen with a knife outside the third-floor entrance at Catlett Hall. The alerts requested students avoid the area and suggested they 'shelter in place” until police had given the all-clear.

The university's department of public safety said UI Police responded immediately to Catlett and monitored entrances and exits of the building, but were unable to locate the man.

'Out of an abundance of caution,” UIDPS said police expanded their investigation in the area 'to further confirm there was no threat.”

Ultimately, officers were unable to locate a suspect, and determined no threats were made and no injuries occurred.

Wednesday morning, UIDPS gave the all-clear, stating 'UI Police are confident that the suspect did not gain access to any student living spaces or restricted areas of the residence halls.”