Police: Teens Surrounded, Robbed at Gunpoint in Victory Park
Five men were arrested after a brief manhunt Friday night, police said.
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A group of teenagers at Victory Park were surrounded by five men who robbed them using a gun and knives Friday night, according to a police report.
The suspects were spotted by police shortly after the incident and three of them attempted to flee, leading police on a brief manhunt before being apprehended and positively identified by the victims, the police report said.
Jollil Centeio, 20, of Somerville, Jesse Williams, 23, of Medford, Darryl McClure, 18, of Arlington, Conor Scarry, 17, of Somerville and Juwan Paige-Alexander, 18, of Somerville were each face four counts of armed robbery and four counts of witness intimidation.
About 9:30 p.m. Friday, the five men allegedly surrounded four teenagers in Victory Park, one brandished a gun and another a knife, and they took the victims' cell phones, a wallet and a money clip and fled.
Before leaving, they told the victims they knew where they lived and would "get them" if they went to police, according to a Medford Police report.
The victims went to a nearby home and called police. Officer Richard Iozza spotted a group of men on Auburn Street that matched the discription provided by victims, according to a report.
When he tried to stop the men, two obeyed, but the other three fled into the wooded area near the Mystic River.
Medford police Lt. Mike Fahey spotted the three remaining suspects running through yards near Martin Street and began a foot pursuit, according to one police report. Along with Medford police, Somerville Police, Tufts University Police, and Malden Police's K-9 unit assisted in the search for the other three suspects, the report said. Two of the suspects were eventually found on Martin Street and one was found on George Street, the report said.
They were all brought to the parking lot at Whole Foods, where the victims positively identified them, according to police.
Two hunting knives were found on the suspects, along with one iPhone that belonged to a victim and one victim's driver's license, police said. Another iPhone belonging to a victim was recovered during the search.
After the arrests, Everett's K-9 unit, which specializes in searching for bullets and guns, was called to the scene to search for the gun allegedly used in the robbery, but it was not found, the report said.
The five suspects were arraigned in Somerville District Court Monday morning. They are expected to appear next in September for probable cause hearings.
Trish
8:57 am on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
GREAT joint effort on the part of law enforcement; and congrats to the teens for not being intimated and calling the authorities!
de
9:48 am on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Good job medford pd. Glad that the kids are safe.
Jackie C.
10:21 am on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Glad to hear that the teens are safe and that they are very brave for standing up so that these guys got apprehended. Good job Medford Police and all the other law enforcement departments that collaborated to catch these guys. I was just there on Saturday night with my kids and nephews and nieces without knowing about this incident.
Abe
1:33 pm on Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Nice job to all the officers. We were driving home and saw all the police officers and we were very impressed. The dogs are awesome.
Lisa Rosselle Evans
7:04 pm on Friday, July 13, 2012
COME LIVE HERE AND SAY WHERE ARE THEY WHEN ALL THE DRUG DEALS ARE GOING ON RIGHT IN FRONT ON THEM AND THEY CAN'T BE BOTHERED GETTING OUT OF THEIR CRUISES GOD FORBID THEY HAVE TO DO ANY PAPER WORK AND THE BEST PART IS THEY SPENT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS PUTTING IN CAMERAS THAT DON'T EVEN WORK THAT MONEY SHOULD HAVE WENT TO NEW PARKS FOR OUR CHILDREN IT FUNNY HOW THE MAYOR OF MEDFORD FIXED UP ALL THE PARKS IN MEDFORD EXCEPT THE ONES IN MISFIT LAND, SO SUCK ANOTHER MELON
Harold
5:23 pm on Thursday, July 12, 2012
The new take from others generation.
John
12:45 pm on Saturday, July 14, 2012
Medford is a dump of a city. Wanna be thugs running around thinking they're tough. I'm 23, went through the Medford Public School system, and I find it both hysterical and pathetic how many people I went to high school with that use and deal drugs, steal, got/are getting pregnant young, and get arrested constantly. If you have children do yourself a favor and move, FAR AWAY.
bornandraised02155
12:57 pm on Saturday, July 14, 2012
Where are you going to go, John? There are no drug problems in other cities or towns? I commend you for staying clean, John, but don't rip Medford. Every place has its problems. Towns like Winchester and Stoneham have drug problems too, but in most cases, they keep them quiet to protect their image. People send their kids to Private Schools, but have you noticed the addicts graduating from those facilities? Medford is not alone in the fight against drugs and crime, but if you want to move "FAR AWAY", be my guest.
MO
1:49 pm on Saturday, July 14, 2012
John you are so right. I blame our schools too as their top priority is no longer academics to ensure a brighter future for our students. The curriculum is now all about changing our children’s values and beliefs to be good global citizens. Your words describe exactly what happens when the curriculum is hijacked by outside interests. Parents need to inspect everything their children bring home and more importantly everything they don’t. Find out what they’re being taught during the day and what videos they’re watching in the classroom that this administration recently purchased. Research who produced these videos so you'll understand the spin put on these subjects. And parents do not give your permission for any sex ed classes…not in this city. Parents need to stop putting their blind faith in our schools.
CeCe
1:12 pm on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
I take offense to you comments. Medford is a wonderful city, maybe not perfect but no place is. My children, 2 in their 20's and 1 at MHS, went through Medford Public Schools. GREAT education, 1 is working in a great job after graduating form a college, 1 at a wonderful top college doing very well and one still in school All 3 are good kids, never in trouble with the law or doing drugs and I must say, parents are to get the pat on the back when kids turn out good but that should also be blamed a bit when kids get into trouble. Parents have the children, not the schools. It is the parent's responsibility to put the kids on the right path, then the schools can just add to that. I can't stand it when people try and blame someone else and not take responsibility for themselves. If you do not like this city that much, you should leave but please stop bashing a city that others care about and enjoy living in.
chp
6:32 pm on Saturday, July 14, 2012
Medford is full of a bunch of fakes. They try to be gangsters but really they're a bunch of wimps. Tough guys until a Somerville kid gets in their face. Sissies
Doria Alberg
12:25 pm on Sunday, July 15, 2012
John, why would you say something like that? Do you know the problems in other school systems? Arlington High seems to have a worse drug problem then Medford as I hear there are Narc agents in the schools once or twice a week. Our kids are everyone's problem and should be everyone's concern. Teachers need to teach, not be buddies, parents need to parent, not be nice guys, and kids need to take some responsibility for their own behavior as well. I don't feel the problem is a city problem, I think it's a nation problem. Kids are bored, they'll do stuff to keep busy, usually though it's stuff they know their parents would disapprove of, unless they know there are consequences. I think we give kids too much of everything nowadays, too much permission, too many choices, too much leeway, too much headroom, except we don't give enough of our time to them. Easy to say, so hard to do, parents have to work, teacher's have their own families, it's a vicious circle. I don't know the right answer, but moving 'far away' isn't it. If you don't like something try to change it, don't run from it.
CeCe
10:44 am on Monday, July 16, 2012
I second those comments. We all need to be more responsible and stop blaming others.
Concerned Citizen
7:46 pm on Monday, July 16, 2012
Wow - Didn't you folks read the article? Four of the five are not from Medford. The victims are from Medford. The kids would not be scared into not reporting it and getting the police involved. Lots of great people live here! Be one of them!
Jarret Bencks
8:39 pm on Monday, July 16, 2012
One comment was deleted on this thread for being a personal attack. Three other comments were deleted for being off-subject.
Jarret Bencks
11:53 pm on Monday, July 16, 2012
A comment on this thread was deleted for inappropriate name-calling. The general gist of the post was that the comments posted here were not "spam or extremely racist."
Any of the commenters who had their posts deleted can email me with a request for their text and they can re-post their comments under a story that is more relevant to their concerns, if they wish.
Roger S
10:10 am on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
When kids cant go to the park without fear of being robbed there is a problem. More police would be a good start. A court system that sentences people appropriately is an answer.
Jack
3:02 pm on Sunday, July 22, 2012
send these thugs to Afghanistan, that might set them straight . . .
NunOfYoBeezWax
11:44 am on Saturday, September 15, 2012
Woooooo!!! Go Conor & Jolliiii!!! Good Thing They Survived The Police Chase With The Crazy Ass K-9's & shiiiit. They Reppin' Us Out Hurr. Naa Mean. Those Teens Deserved That Shit,For All We Know They Could Be Bullies Or Drug Dealers...Who Knows Maaannggg. Conor Scarry's The Shiiiieeeeeeetttt <3