Two Arrested For Robbing Towson Busker, Kicking Guitar

Two Baltimore men have been arrested on robbery and assault charges in a confrontation with a busker in downtown Towson.

According to police, a busker was playing guitar Friday night at the corner of York Road and Pennsylvania Avenue and collecting tips from passers-by.

The busker told police that two men approached him shortly after 11 p.m. One told him to get off their corner. The street performer refused. While one man yelled at him, the other snuck behind and tried to steal a bucket holding $4 to $5 in tips. The man struggled over the bucket, which spilled onto the sidewalk. The robbers took most of the money, then one kicked the guitar in the victim's hand.

The busker tried to dial 911, but the same man then kicked the phone out of his hand, breaking it, according to a police report.

Police soon spotted two men matching the victim's description walking southbound on York Road.

Arrested were Tony Lyde, 43, of the 3200 block of McElderry Street in southeast Baltimore, and Reginald Johnny Bonaparte Jr., 32, of the 1600 block of Argonne Drive in Northeast Baltimore. Both were charged with robbery and second-degree assault. Lyde also was charged with destruction of property.

Lyde was initially held on $100,000 bond. It was reduced to $25,000 on Monday. Bonaparte was released Saturday on $100,000 bond.