Police Arrest Robbery Suspects Who Lured Victim Online

– Allison Goldsberry

Medford Police have arrested two suspects they say allegedly beat and robbed a man early in the morning on October 1.

The victim, a 23-year-old male, went to 92 Surrey Street around 2:00 AM because he thought he was meeting a woman he had spoken to on meetme.com to hang out and smoke marijuana. According to police, the suspects posed as a woman on the website to lure the victim.

Police say three suspects were waiting in the area for the victim, who was beaten up before he could dial 911. He was struck over the head with an aluminum bat and after he was on the ground he was hit by some type of object similar to a broom stick or lacrosse stick. The victim was robbed of his cell phone, car keys, money, and marijuana.

The victim was able to make it home and call police. He was later taken to the hospital by his father. He received several staples to close a large wound on his head.

Police identified three “persons of interest” due to surveillance video in the area. They discovered that two of the suspects, Eric Darden, 20, and Bryan Newell, 20, both of Medford, had outstanding warrants for misdeamoners. Both were arrested on those warrants and after being interviewed about the Surrey Street robbery, they were placed under arrest. Police say a third suspect has been identified and will also be charged.

According to police, the suspects are allegedly connected to at least two other street robberies that happened in Medford and another city. The suspects are believed to have used meetme.com to lure victims in those robberies, which took place in Medford in August on Rockwood Terrace and Paris Street during the early morning hours.

Darden and Newell are each charged with armed robbery, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, and larceny.

The police are continuing to investigate and anyone with information can contact the Medford Police Detectives at 781-391-6767 or can text a tip via Tips411.