Trending
LEWISTOWN -- A Mifflintown man is facing felony robbery and other charges after allegedly assaulting his an individual and taking their cell phone during an altercation in Lewistown on Friday.
Christian Torres Santiago, 25, was charged by Lewistown Borough Police with robbery, a third-degree felony; theft by unlawful taking, a first-degree misdemeanor; simple assault and evading arrest on foot, both second-degree misdemeanors; and a summary count of harassment.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, officers were dispatched at approximately 3:01 p.m. Oct. 23 to the area of 120 E. Market St. for a report of an assault in progress near Lewistown Health and Fitness Center.
Police said a witness reported seeing a man assaulting a woman before fleeing toward West Market Street. Dispatchers advised officers that the woman was bleeding from the face and that another woman had attempted to intervene.
Officers located a man matching the suspect’s description near 132 S. Main St. According to court documents, the man initially refused to cooperate with officers and began running when they attempted to stop him.
Police said Torres Santiago was apprehended after officers pursued him on foot. He allegedly assumed a defensive stance with his hands raised before officers used control tactics to take him to the ground and place him in handcuffs.
During the investigation, police spoke with the alleged victim, who reported that they had been walking along South Plaza Drive when they began arguing over belongings.
The victim told police Torres Santiago became angry and began striking the victim in the face. Officers observed a bloody lip and a contusion forming beneath her left eye.
The affidavit says a witness who saw the altercation and attempted to intervene. The witness told police they began pushing Torres Santiago away from the victim, but he allegedly struck (the witness) as well.
A second witness, reported seeing Torres Santiago push the victim near 21 S. Brown St. and attempt to take their cell phone.
The second witness said the victim was holding the phone in the air to keep it away from Torres Santiago. The two later moved behind 120 E. Market St., where he allegedly continued attempting to take the phone.
The victim told investigators they allowed Torres Santiago to use their cell phone to look something up but that he refused to return it. She said she attempted to retrieve the phone before leaving the area.
Torres Santiago was arraigned Oct. 23, and monetary bail was set at $50,000. He remains incarcerated at Mifflin County Prison after being unable to post bail.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. Nov. 4 before Magisterial District Judge Eric S. Ettinger.