A University of Wisconsin student was mugged at gunpoint last week, and police believe they have the suspect in custody.

Ryan Oettiker was walking home from his chemistry lab and talking on the phone at 8:15 p.m. Nov. 5 when he approached a man blocking the sidewalk at the corner of Mound and Mills streets. Oettiker said he had not been paying attention to the dark streets and thought the man was a panhandler.

“Then he shoved a gun in my chest and told me ‘you need to get off that phone right now,'” Oettiker said.

Oettiker said the man was a plainly dressed 6-foot-2 black male who seemed anxious. Oettiker fumbled with his phone and sensed the man growing more impatient when he clubbed Oettiker on the side of his head with the pistol.

“I was more confused than scared at the time,” Oettiker said. The man took Oettiker’s cell phone and $40 and told him to lie down on the ground. The man became angry when he noticed Oettiker trying to get a good look at his car.

“He told me ‘don’t look up or I’ll blow your head off,'” Oettiker said. “Then he chucked my keys into the bushes and drove off.”

Oettiker said the police told him the man had tried to rob someone else who did not have any money that night on the corner of Mills and Regent streets.

Lt. Wayne Strong of the Madison Police Department said officers have had a suspect in custody since Wednesday who fits Oettiker’s description of the robbery suspect. Strong said the held suspect is thought to be involved in auto thefts and may also be responsible for the muggings.

Oettiker said he has replayed the incident a million times in his mind but has concluded there wasn’t much he could have done to prevent the mugging.

“All you can really do is do what they tell you and get them away from you as fast as possible,” Oettiker said.

Strong recommended that victims of theft remain calm and cooperate fully, paying attention to the criminal’s permanent facial features to retain the best possible description.

Capt. Luis Yudice of the MPD said crime is not common in the mugging’s vicinity and suggested students be aware of their surroundings.

“Don’t become paranoid — appear self-confident and secure,” Yudice said.

Oettiker said he was shaken up after the mugging but has realized he is lucky.

“I could have been shot,” Oettiker said. “If I had paid attention, maybe I would have gotten suspicious. People need to be aware and pay attention.”