On Saturday December 19, 2009 at approximately 08:46 PM, Officer Sean McGuire was patrolling the North Dartmouth Mall, when he came across a disturbance. Officer McGuire reported that as he approached the area of T-Mobile he heard loud screams for help.

Officer McGuire then observed a male being chased by another male. As the male parties passed his marked police car, the male being chased was tackled by his would be attacker near Sears.

Officer McGuire observed the altercation that ensued while exiting his cruiser to stop the assault. Officer McGuire subdued the aggressor and placed him in handcuffs.

Through further investigation it was found that two 16 year old Wareham juveniles were assaulted and robbed by a 16 year old New Bedford male and two additional males. The victims stated to police that after purchasing a pair of sneakers in the mall they were physically assaulted by the assailant in the parking lot. It was reported by the victims that their attacker was accompanied by two other males.

One of the victims stated that after being punched he dropped his newly purchased sneakers and one of the other attackers ran off with them. The box containing the sneakers was located under a parked vehicle by Officer James Storey.

The 16 year old New Bedford male was taken into custody and transported to the Dartmouth Police station for processing.

While processing the juvenile, Officer McGuire was advised that the two additional suspects were observed driving off in a white Saturn. This vehicle was subsequently stopped a brief time after the robbery and two additional suspects were apprehended by Lt. Gregg Rutch and Officer Scott Stanton. The suspects were identified as 19 year old Hiram Rivera of 84 Covell St., in New Bedford and 21 year old Brett Fortes from 46 Oaklawn St., in New Bedford.

All three suspects were charged with Assault & Battery and Unarmed Robbery. The suspects will all be arraigned at Third District Court in New Bedford on December 21, 2009.
Please contact Det. Robert Levinson with any questions you may have.

-From the Dartmouth Police Department