SO Teen Assaulted, Robbed in Maplewood

Two Maplewood teens were arrested by Maplewood police last Thursday after they fled Memorial Park following an alleged assault of an 18-year-old South Orange resident and demanded his bicycle.

When officers arrived, they found the two teens in the area of Valley Street and Park Road and arrested them.

The teens, 13 and 15 years old, are both from Maplewood. They were charged with robbery and aggravated assault and turned over to the Essex County Youth House.

According to Maplewood police accounts, the 18-year-old man was riding his bicycle in the south field of the park just before 4 p.m. when he was approached by a group of teenagers.

The teens allegedly demanded he turn over his bike, but the man declined. According to police accounts, the victim was then struck by one of the teens while the other teen wrestled away the bicycle. Also taken were the man’s wallet and cellphone. 

The victim’s property was recovered by the officers and he did not suffer any injuries in the incident.