Knoxville police arrest two people in connection with multiple robberies

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) – Knoxville police have arrested two people in connection with multiple robberies that occurred over the weekend.

KPD’s Scott Erland said Brandon Donathan, 25, and Sarai Standridge, 24, both of Knoxville, were charged with attempted aggravated robbery.

On Sunday morning, the University of Tennessee Police Department issued an alert for a robbery that occurred at 11th Street and Cumberland Avenue.

According to UT Police, the suspect was last seen fleeing toward Neyland Drive via the 3rd Creek Greenway. Police said the suspect was armed with a handgun and was described as a white or Hispanic male, wearing a ski mask and a black hoodie.

KPD’s Scott Erland said officers responded to the area of Luscombe Drive and Pocanno Road on Sunday afternoon. The officers received information that a man dressed in black tried to rob a resident with a gun. Erland said the suspect fled the scene and got into a white sedan.

Police said a witness managed to record video of the suspect and the white sedan and also witnessed the suspect throwing a firearm into nearby bushes.

A short time later, officers observed a suspicious vehicle traveling west on Luscombe Drive. According to KPD, officers stopped the vehicle and detained both people, identified as Donathan and Standridge, inside.

Earland said Brandon Donathan, 25, and Sarai Standridge, 24, both of Knoxville,... — Earland said Brandon Donathan, 25, and Sarai Standridge, 24, both of Knoxville, have been charged in connection with the robberies and attempted robberies.(KCSO)

Donathan and Standridge were transported to the Knoxville Public Safety Complex for questioning. Detectives were able to link Donathan and Standridge to three robberies that occurred near the UT campus and two other attempted robberies that were not reported to KPD until Sunday afternoon, Erland said.

KPD said a male victim reported that a man identified as Donathan attempted to rob him at gunpoint in the area of Clinch Avenue and 22nd Street around 1:10 a.m. Sunday. The female victim also reported that a man, also identified as Donathan, attempted to rob her at gunpoint in the area of Clinch Avenue and 17th Street around 1:30 a.m. Sunday.

Erland said Donathan and Standridge were charged with attempted aggravated robbery in connection with the incident that took place on Luscombe Road. Donathan was also charged with multiple additional counts of robbery or attempted robbery, as well as possession of a firearm during the commission of a dangerous crime. Additional charges are expected for Standridge.