One of three Riverside men suspected in a series of robberies during which the victims’ gold and silver chains were yanked from their necks was being held Friday in lieu of $30,000 bail.
Nathaniel Graham, 24, was arrested Thursday along with Antonio Sharpe, 23, and Stacey Delandro Williams, 22, on suspicion of robbery and conspiracy.
Both Sharpe and Williams posted $30,000 bonds and were released from the Robert Presley Detention Center within hours. Graham remains at the facility.
According to Riverside police, the robberies happened on Sept. 20 and Sept. 23, within a mile of UC Riverside.
During the first offense, the trio walked into the Sushiya Restaurant at 1201 University Ave., cornered a patron and ripped a chain from his neck, then fled, Sgt. Lavall Nelson alleged.
About 4 p.m. on Sept. 23, the suspects are accused of approaching a young man within the University Village in the 1200 block of University Avenue, pretending to be signature-gatherers for a petition drive. Once close enough to the victim, one of the men tore away a chain he was wearing and then jumped into a vehicle, speeding away, Nelson alleged.
About 15 minutes later, the suspects allegedly did the same thing to a man walking outside the Palms Apartments in the 1400 block of University, but that victim was able to snap a picture of the getaway car, including its license plate, and turn it over to police, the sergeant said.
After compiling sufficient evidence over a month, arrest warrants were issued for all three suspects, who were taken into custody without a struggle at unspecified locations.
–City News Service