Man Arrested On College Campus With Loaded Handgun

BALTIMORE (WJZ) - City police have arrested a man caught on Morgan State University's campus with a loaded handgun.

Officials say on Tuesday, police responded to the 1700 block of Argonne Drive for reports of an armed person.

Officers tracked down and arrest 21-year-old Garnett Sears, who was caught hiding in a dorm room.

Detectives say he tried to rob a student moments before.

Investigators say it all started with a 911 call.

"The 911 call came into city police yesterday evening of an attempted robbery," says Clint Coleman of Morgan State University.

"He made a statement before he ultimately turned and ran on foot. We chased him," says Det. Donny Moses of Baltimore City Police.

The chase ended at Rawlings Hall, but before running through the doors, university officials say a security officer saw Sears toss something on the roof.

It turned out to be a backpack with the loaded handgun inside.

"Obviously one of our goals and objectives is to get some of these guns off the streets," Moses says. "Our saying is if you're armed, you'll use it."

Courts records show that Spears doesn't have a criminal record, just traffic tickets in Baltimore City and Towson.

University officials credited teamwork between City police, campus police and 49 new security guards hired last school year.

Morgan State officials say Spears is not a student at the college, and they plan to review security measures after this latest incident.

Sears has been charged with various handgun violations.

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• Baltimore City Police