Two men beaten, robbed downtown
Two men reported being beaten and robbed near Broad and East Bay streets in downtown Charleston on Wednesday night, police said.
The attack happened in the roadway near 7 Elliott St. around 9:45 p.m. One of the victims, a 20-year-old, was hit in the side of the head and was struck again after he fell to the ground, a police report says. One of the two robbers searched his pockets, taking a cell phone and $250 in cash.
One assailant also searched the second victim's pockets but found nothing, police said.
The attackers ran toward East Bay Street, then turned south, police said. Officers arrested one man in the area because he fit witness descriptions, though officers did not find a second suspect.
Martez Rollerson, 17, of North Tracy Street, was awaiting a bail hearing at the Charleston County Detention Center on two counts of strong-arm robbery.
The man who was punched suffered a bruise on the right side of his face and a scrape on his left elbow; the other victim was uninjured, police said. Neither required medical attention.
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Comments
Neponset (anonymous) says...
This is not good for joe's tourist trade. This is in the area where tourist and locals would be in the early evening. Tourism, I am sure, is down and if word gets out it could be down even more. This is not an isolated incident.
July 18, 2008 at 6:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
berthelot (anonymous) says...
Remember this from a couple of weeks ago?
http://www.charleston.net/news/2008/j...
July 18, 2008 at 7:28 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Neponset (anonymous) says...
berth
Don't have a link, but a tourist was shot in this area a while ago. Makes one think about going down town for dinner.
July 18, 2008 at 7:48 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
draftdot (anonymous) says...
hold Martez w/out bail until he squeals on his "friend"; then throw the book @ both of them...
July 18, 2008 at 10:27 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
wheels2u666 (anonymous) says...
although a person should feel safe walking downtown, especially in that neighboorhood, walking around with 250 bucks in your pocket is also very stupid ,
July 18, 2008 at 10:45 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MindBath (anonymous) says...
9:45pm??? What on earth were they doing out at that ungodly hour? Nothing good happens after dark...
And right on about staying away from downtown. I plan to get a job at my church and move next door so I can safely walk to and from work and our Friday and Saturday night popcorn socials at the fellowship hall. We always wrap it up before dark. The move will allow me to sell my minivan and the motorcycle helmet I always wear when driving it. Hope no one accuses me of being a liberal, though, since I really won't be burning much gas anymore.
Alas, maybe the world will be safer in a couple of years since they have started this new idea of taking criminals off the streets...
July 18, 2008 at 12:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
eyfigueroa (anonymous) says...
same here coldbeer. lol I had to read his post twice. :-)
July 18, 2008 at 1:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
letstakeawalk (anonymous) says...
@ Wheels2u666
It is not at all inconcievable that someone would carry that much cash in that part of town. Many waitstaff work nearby, and park in the area. They can walk out of their jobs with several hundred dollars in cash tips on any given night. Likewise, the walking tour guides who conduct their business in the area may often have similar amounts of cash on their person. The brutal attack occured within spitting distance of several banks, all of which offer night deposit drops, where local business people often deposit their daily receipts after closing up shop for the day.
Stop blaming the victims, blame the criminals.
July 18, 2008 at 3:34 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MsBehavin (anonymous) says...
One of the local TV stations reported that this incident occurred outside Oak restaurant. It's pretty bad that you can't go out to dinner in downtown Charleston without getting robbed.
July 18, 2008 at 8:17 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jammer (anonymous) says...
lol Mind...
wheels some meals cost more than that downtown, that isn't a lot of money for dowtown
downtown = dressed up ghetto, I don't go there but maybe once a year either and when I go I carry a weapon
July 19, 2008 at 7:33 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Neponset (anonymous) says...
I can see it now, some punk approaches you, you whip out your 44 mag. and say something like "make my day" or "do you feel lucky". I may have screwed up the quotes but you get my drift.
July 19, 2008 at 8:06 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Neponset (anonymous) says...
jam
This also reminds me of a guy I worked with. Anyway he was big, kind of primitive and would carry heat on trips. He was in the parking lot at Disney World and was approached by a robber - my friend pistol whipped the robber. Not a good day for the robber.
July 19, 2008 at 8:18 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jammer (anonymous) says...
so you've met me eh Nep... lol
July 19, 2008 at 8:30 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
willie08 (anonymous) says...
People shouldn't carry around so much cash, unless of course they just got off work, then I can understand.
July 19, 2008 at 9:42 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MinoritySouth (anonymous) says...
Sounds like a drug purchase gone bad... Buying your drugs on East Bay does not provide immunity from your drug dealer robbing you.
July 19, 2008 at 1:51 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MinoritySouth (anonymous) says...
Who walks around with $250.00 at 9:45 pm?
When I bar hop I pack the plastic and no more than $50.00 cash.
July 19, 2008 at 1:54 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jammer (anonymous) says...
some of you act like the robbers knew he had $250... it wouldn't have mattered if he had $20 and a visa the result would have been the same
they didn't know what he had until after they robbed him, how much he had with him is totally irrelevant... the fact that someone needs to beat these deadbeat thugs a*s a few times is totally relevant
spare the rod spare the thug
off to jail with them
July 19, 2008 at 7:25 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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