Alleged Staged Mugging Leads to Arrests of Collingswood Men

A pair of Collingswood men was arrested last week in connection with a robbery and assault that police say they staged in order to defraud an acquaintance out of a social assistance check.

According to police reports, 28-year-old Joseph Ellis and an unidentified friend were walking along the 900 block of Magill Ave. around 3 a.m. on March 19 when they were approached by a man with his face covered.

The man allegedly demanded their money. When they refused, he pepper-sprayed them and fled.

Upon further investigation, however, detectives concluded that the assault was no random encounter.

Ellis, they said, had arranged the attack with his 18-year-old roommate, Eli Torres (the assailant), reasoning that if Ellis were also assaulted then the victim wouldn't suspect his involvement. 

Torres was charged with first-degree robbery, conspiracy to commit the same, aggravated assault and unlawful possession of a weapon.

Ellis was charged with robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery. Both were remanded to the Camden County correctional facility with bail yet to be set.

Ellis has appeared in Collingswood Police blotters previously, once after a 2011 arrest involving vehicle burglaries and again in 2012 on the strength of a warrant from Oaklyn.

Police say the actual victim did not sustain any significant injury as a result of the attempted robbery.