Accused Vernon Pizza Delivery Mugger Still in Custody

VERNON, CT — The Vernon man charged with beating up and robbing a pizza delivery driver is being held on a $75,000 bond and is due back in court on May 31, according to judicial system records.

Andre Tilghman, 27, of 13 Highland Ave., Vernon, was arrested on May 5, according to police records. He was charged with third-degree robbery, third-degree assault and second-degree larceny, according to an arrest warrant.

The mugging took place at 4:09 p.m. on April 25, according to police records. Vernon police responded to the Spring Street area after a delivery driver said she was attempting to deliver pizza and was assaulted by a man, according to police records.

The suspect then fled on foot, police said. A Vernon police dog unit attempted to track the suspect but he was not found, police said.

The driver, who worked for Domino's, suffered minor injuries and was taken to an area hospital, police said. The driver told police that she had seen a man at the top of a stairwell during a delivery to 25 Spring St., according to an arrest warrant.

She told officers the man disappeared briefly and she initially thought he was telling whomever ordered the pizza that she arrived, according to an arrest warrant.

She said the man reappeared wearing a facemask, according to an arrest warrant. The driver remembers getting hit in the face after the man prevented her from heading down the stairs, according to an arrest warrant.

The driver told police she assumed a protective posture on the floor, but remembers the thug rolling her over and rummaging through her pockets as she was bleeding from the nose, according to an arrest warrant.

He ran away with about $100 in cash and a cell phone, police said in a warrant.

Some people living in the area eventually identified Tilghman, including one who heard him saying he may "get the pizza guy."

He was initially held on a $150,000 bond.

Photo Credit: VPD