Males arrested for assaulting female students on Friday night
Published: Monday, October 22, 2012
Updated: Monday, April 22, 2013 19:04
Two Maryland residents were arrested Sunday morning for assaulting several university students who were walking on East Cleveland Avenue, according to a Newark police official.
Chief of Police Paul Tiernan said three of the students sustained minor injuries. Anthony Battle, 19, and Desmond Romeo, 21, both of Edgewood, Md., were arrested on multiple charges including strangulation, unlawful sexual contact and robbery.
Tiernan said the first incident occurred at approximately 1 a.m. when two 21-year-old females attempted to walk past a group of men standing on either side of the sidewalk. When the women tried to pass, members of the group slapped them on the buttocks.
Five other females who were 18 to 20 years old attempted to walk past the crowd and were also assaulted, according to Tiernan.
One of the females attempted to confront members of the group, but was pushed into the road by Romeo and got minor scrapes on her back, he said. When she tried to call 911, Tiernan said Battle took her cellphone and threw it.
As one of the victim’s female friends attempted to intervene, Romeo lifted her by the neck and threw her into the bushes. Her injuries included neck and back pain, he said.
A 19-year-old male also attempted to intervene, Tiernan said, but was pushed to the ground by another member of the group and scraped his arms. The victims all refused medical treatment, he said.
During this time frame, several witnesses called 911 and officers were able to detain six members of the group. Tiernan said Romeo and Battle were positively identified and arrested. He said neither Romeo, Battle nor the four males detained were university students.
Battle is currently being held at Howard R. Young Correctional in lieu of $9,200 bail. Tiernan said he is being charged with one count of robbery in the second degree, three counts of unlawful sexual contact in the third degree and one count of malicious interference with emergency communications.
Tiernan said Romeo is also being held at Howard R. Young Correctional in lieu of $8,200 bail. He said Romeo is being charged with one count of strangulation, two counts of unlawful sexual contact in the third degree and two counts of offensive touching.
Anyone with information about the incident can contact Det. James Skinner at (302) 366-7110 ext. 135 or at james.skinner@cj.state.de.us.
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