On Sept. 7, SUNY Buffalo State students received an email alert regarding suspicious person activity on and off campus.

University Police and City of Buffalo Police departments are looking for a suspect in an attempted burglary that occurred the morning of Sept. 7 at the off-campus apartment of a female Buffalo State student.

Willie E. Caldwell allegedly tried to force his way into the student’s off-campus residence around 1 a.m. on Sept. 7. The student yelled for help and Caldwell fled the scene. The student was unharmed.

Caldwell, not a student at Buffalo State, also allegedly approached the student on the evening of Sept. 6 at E.H. Butler Library. The student was at a study table when the suspect approached her. She left the library and walked home to find Caldwell standing outside her residence.

Caldwell did not have any previous contact with the student prior to the two incidents.

Surprisingly, however, Caldwell does have a criminal record with UPD.

“We’ve arrested him twice this year [and] several years ago,” UPD Chief Peter Carey said. “But he was on campus twice earlier this year.”

The two other times Caldwell was on campus this year, he was arrested for trespassing and similar activity. He has since been banned from campus.

UPD urges students to immediately call them at (716) 878-6333 if they encounter Caldwell on campus or dial 911 if they are off campus. Students with any information on Caldwell or the alleged attempted burglary case should contact UPD or Buffalo Police’s “D” District office at (716) 851-4413.

Carey said no other reports of similar activity have occurred since Sept. 7.

“He’s [Caldwell] not been apprehended and we, along with Buffalo Police, are looking for him,” Carey said. “We believe now that we’ve put the information out that he’s not coming to Buffalo State, that we hope, because of assured apprehension. But his criminal history indicates he has regular contact with the police, so if he’s not located as part of the investigation, we feel his behavior will bring him into an interaction with the police.

email: [email protected]