Three Kingston Men Charged Over Armed Robbery and Forced ATM Withdrawal

Three Kingston residents were arrested after allegedly robbing a man, stealing his wallet and phone, and forcing him to withdraw cash at an ATM. All three face felony robbery charges.

Kingston Trio Charged With Robbery and Forced ATM Withdrawal

Three Kingston men have been charged with first-degree robbery after police say they ambushed a man on Broadway, stole his wallet and cellphone, and compelled him to hand over his bank card PIN, longisland.news12.com reports.

According to Kingston police, the incident unfolded at approximately 4:45 a.m. on 20 September, when three men approached a pedestrian leaving a store on Broadway. The victim was taken to a secluded area off the street, where the suspects took his wallet and cellphone.

The wallet contained a debit card. Police allege two of the suspects restrained the victim in the secluded area while a third travelled to a nearby ATM and withdrew cash using the stolen card and the PIN the victim had been forced to reveal.

The three men then attempted to move the victim to a second location. He managed to break free, flee the scene, and contact 911.

Following an investigation, Kingston police identified and arrested three local residents: Mickael S. Spiecker, 40, Shareal N. Brown, 27, and Dustin G. VanEtten, 27.

All three face a charge of first-degree robbery, a felony, and unlawful imprisonment in the second degree, a misdemeanour. The suspects were arraigned in Ulster County CAP Court and remanded to Ulster County Jail.

Police say that at the time of their arrest, Spiecker and Brown were both on parole for prior burglary convictions, while VanEtten was out on bail in connection with a separate robbery charge.

Source: Google News JM — Kingston