Instagram Video of Armed Robbery Leads Pa. Police to Suspects
By Sarah Cassi
Source The Express-Times
Two men are accused of robbing a person at gunpoint on a Bethlehem street as a “lesson,” and then posting a video of the robbery on Instagram.
Jadrien Charles Robles, 20, of Bethlehem, and Cole Rauch, 18, of Catasauqua, were arraigned Wednesday night on charges including robbery, possession of a weapon, and simple assault.
They are each being held in Northampton County Prison in lieu of $125,000 bail. Attorneys have not entered appearances for either man.
Bethlehem police said the victim flagged down an officer driving past at about 8:35 p.m. Tuesday, near North New and East Goepp streets. The officer saw two men, later identified as Rauch and Robles, running away, according to court records.
The robbers were wearing masks and told the victim the robbery was a lesson, police said; the victim recognized the men’s voices.
The victim told police the robbers were “previous associates” of his, but he only knew their street names. City police said Robles goes by “Spazz” and Rauch goes by “C-Dot.”
Both men allegedly showed firearms in their waistbands and demanded the victim’s belongings. They took the victim’s wallet, bag, cellphone and shoes, city police said.
Robles is accused of posting a video on Instagram of the robbery. Police said on Wednesday they found the video on an Instagram account linked to Robles.
The victim is seen in the video, and the robbers tell him “You didn’t think I would find you?” and “Let this be a lesson to stop talking s***,” according to police.
The Instagram account was linked to a Facebook page with the same username, and police said they identified the person as Robles. The Instagram account listed in court records did not have any posts as of Thursday, but police did not say if the video was a post, a reel or a story, which can disappear from the account after 24 hours.
The victim identified both men from photo lineups as the robbers, police said.
Police said both men were spotted Wednesday afternoon near Robles’ home on Geissinger Street in Bethlehem. One man was arrested after a short foot chase, police said, and the second was found hiding inside a home.
City police said one of the men—they didn’t say who—was wearing the victim’s stolen sneakers, and they found a handgun that was used in the robbery and the victim’s other property.
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