Arrest made in Coppell HS parking lot armed robbery

COPPELL, Texas - Coppell police arrested a man just before 9 p.m. Wednesday for an armed robbery in the Coppell High School parking lot. 

Gerald Hiam, 29, of Gilmer was arrested and booked into the Dallas County Jail on an outstanding warrant for aggravated robbery out of Upshur County.

Coppell police said he is suspected of committing the aggravated robbery at Coppell High School.

The arrest happened in the 100 block of Hartford Circle, a residential street just blocks from the school, where police located the suspected robber's vehicle.

According to a police spokesperson, a resident called police reporting "suspicious activity." When police arrived, the driver of a vehicle parked outside became uncooperative and would not exit his vehicle. 

Police also said in a statement: "At one point, the individual displayed a handgun although he did not point it at the officers. The driver became erratic and showed signs of drug use. Officers were able to set up a perimeter and notified SWAT of the barricaded person. After approximately one hour the driver surrendered without incident before SWAT could be deployed."

The driver also had an outstanding warrant from another county for aggravated robbery. No one was harmed during the arrest. 

There was increased security at Coppell High School on Wednesday after a student was robbed at gunpoint Tuesday evening.

The robbery happened around 6:15 p.m. Tuesday  in a school parking lot. The juvenile victim told police a man pulled up and asked him a few questions before pointing a handgun out.

The student was not hurt, but the suspect got away with his cell phone and wallet.

The student described the suspect as a Hispanic male with a goatee. He was wearing a dark-colored, possibly Nike brand shirt with some type of writing on it. He was driving a newer model, silver Nissan Sentra with paper tags.

Coppell police are investigating and trying to get surveillance video from the school and nearby businesses.

There will be extra officers on campus for the rest of the week as a precaution.  However, the school district said it does not believe students are in danger.

"I don't think I'm overly concerned, I think it was an isolated incident from what they've reported," said Coppell parent Mike Tanner.

Student Omar Faidy said the school is peaceful and he had never "heard of anything like this ever happening before."

All students are asked to report suspicious activity to police.