Teen Robbed While Playing Pokemon Go: Police

FORT LEE, N.J. — A borough man is accused of robbing a 16-year-old in Englewood who was playing Pokemon Go Wednesday while walking down the street, police said.

Englewood Police Officer Nathaniel Kinlaw responded to a report of a bicycle theft on South Dean Street Wednesday, said Detective Capt. Timothy Torell.

Kinlaw found a witness who was threatened with force while preventing the theft and who knew the owner of the bicycle, Torell said.

Kinlaw searched the area and found Carlos Joya, 19, committing a strong-arm robbery of a 16-year-old Leonia resident who was walking down the street playing Pokemon Go, Kinlaw said.

Joya was assaulting the boy so Kinlaw grabbed him and he resisted, the captain said. Joya reached for his pockets and yelled at Kinlaw to shoot him, police said.

Two more police arrived and helped get Joya under control, Torell said.

Joya refused to be fingerprinted and photographed while being booked at police headquarters, police said. He was charged with two counts of second-degree robbery and resisting arrest, Torell said.

Joya was remanded to the bergen County Jail on $50,000 bail with no 10 percent option, police said. The case will be referred to the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office for disposition.

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