Teen Duo Charged in City Street Robbery

Two Long Beach teens were charged for a street robbery in the city Tuesday.

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According to Long Beach Police Department, police officer Stephanie Marra was on patrol and observed two men, Akym Stephens and Nasuan Mitchell, both 18, step behind a 15-year-old male Long Beach resident and put their hands into his pant pockets at West Walnut Street and National Boulevard at about 5:19 p.m. May 1.   

“While this was happening, the victim had his hands raised above his head and appeared to be fearful of the subjects and apparently following their orders,” Lt. Eric Cregeen said in a statement about the incident.

Cregeen said that when the officer stepped out of his vehicle, the victim yelled to him: “Officer these two guys are trying to rob me!” The victim told the officer that he was walking southbound on National Boulevard near West Olive Street when the two subjects approached him from behind, and Mitchell told the victim that he had heard that he wanted to fight him.  

“[Stephens] then stated to the victim that if he could give them some bud or money he would not get beat up,” Cregeen said. “In street terms bud is marijuana. Stephens told the victim to ‘run his pockets,’ which in street talk means to empty your pockets and give everything to him.”

Cregeen said the victim complied with Stephens’ orders and as Stephens went through his pockets the officer arrived on the scene. The victim told police that Mitchell threatened to beat him up if he failed to comply or tried to run away.
The officer called for assistance and three other officers arrived on the scene and Stephens and Mitchell, both Long Beach residents, were arrested and charged with second-degree robbery, after which they were transported to LBPD headquarters.

Judge Tepper arraigned Mitchell in Long Beach City Court and bail was set at $20,000 bond over $10,000 cash on May 2. Mitchell's next court date is before Judge Donino in Nassau County Court on May 10.

Mitchell was previously arrested and charged with second-degree robbery for an incident at the Long Beach boardwalk in October 2011, according to the Long Beach Herald. 

Stephens was released on a $10,000 bond and will be arraigned in the Long Beach City Court on May 6.

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