Police say a teenager was held up inside a Pottsville parking garage in the middle of the day last Wednesday.
According to a criminal complaint filed by Pottsville Bureau of Police, a call was received by a 13-year-old male at 12:49 p.m. on Aug. 21. The caller was inside the Capitol Parking Garage at E. Race St. and Progress Ave.
When police arrived, the teen said he was held at gunpoint by a man described as light-skinned with short dark hair, a gray tank-top shirt, blue jeans, and carrying a small black bag.
The teen said it felt as though this man, later identified as Carlos Arroyo-Serrano, 27 and from Minersville, was following him. To try and lose him, the teen said he went into the Capitol Parking Garage.
Arroyo-Serrano allegedly followed the teen into the garage and shouted at him to stop. He then allegedly approached the teen with one of his hands in the small black bag he was carrying.
The teen told police when Arroyo-Serrano had his hand in the bag, he was trying to make it appear as though he had a gun. Meanwhile, Arroyo-Serrano allegedly started searching the teen, taking his phone and even making him take off his pants.
Arroyo-Serrano eventually returned the teen’s phone, police say, and then ran away toward Progress Ave.
Surveillance camera footage reportedly helped police identify Arroyo-Serrano and confirm the story told to them by the teen who was held up in the garage, according to the criminal complaint.
Police say the video also shows the teen holding his arms and hands in the air as if he’s been held at gunpoint while Arroyo-Serrano searches him.
Arroyo-Serrano was later located and arrested by police. While in custody, Arroyo-Serrano allegedly told police that the teen he was following had taken $40 from a family friend and when he saw him, decided to follow him and search him to see if he had any money on him.
Police asked Arroyo-Serrano why he made it seem he was holding a gun while he searched the teen. Arroyo-Serrano allegedly told police, “I didn’t know if he had anything on him.”
The defendant allegedly admitted to police that he temporarily took the teen’s phone, made him take off his pants, and took a knife. Arroyo-Serrano said the teen didn’t have any money on him.
Arroyo-Serrano was arraigned before District Magistrate James Reiley on Aug. 21 and remanded to Schuylkill County Prison on $25,000 cash bail.
He’s facing a first- and third-degree felony robbery charge as well as misdemeanor charges of simple assault and attempted theft.
A preliminary hearing was scheduled for Monday morning.
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