Hawk Alert issued for University of Iowa

The University of Iowa has sent a Hawk Alert to students this afternoon warning them about an armed robbery suspect that might be in the downtown area.

The alert, which some students received after 2 p.m., describes the suspect as a white male with a knife in his late 30s with gray facial hair and glasses. It says the man is wearing a red sweatshirt and a plaid shirt.

He was last seen in the downtown area.

A commander with the Iowa City Police Department said the robbery is a UI police case, and Iowa City officers are assisting.  He did not have further details about the alleged crime that prompted the Hawk Alert, but a posting on the University of Iowa's Web site mentioned that the suspect "displayed a knife to a woman and asked for her phone."

The victim wasn't harmed.

As of 4 p.m., University of Iowa and Iowa City police are still looking for the armed robbery suspect.