Staff Report

Jose Avila

WARSAW — A teen was recently arrested after stealing a cellphone from an individual.

Jose Avila, 18, Hammond, is charged with robbery, a level 5 felony; and theft and battery, both class A misdemeanors.

On Oct. 5, a Warsaw Police officer spoke with a person regarding a battery that occurred in Lucerne Park. The person said they were attempting to sell an iPhone 7s on Facebook Marketplace. Avila expressed interest in purchasing the phone and agreed to meet the person at Lucerne Park to purchase it.

According to court documents, the person went to the park and met with Avila, who was accompanied by two minors. When the person handed Avila the phone so he could look at it, Avila allegedly punched the person in the jaw and fled with the phone.

On Oct. 6, the officer received video footage of the incident from Warsaw Parks Department. The footage shows Avila and the two minors in the park. Shortly after their first appearance in the footage, the three are shown running from the park on foot.

The following day, Warsaw Police spoke with a school resource officer, who identified the two in the video. One of the youths spoke with officers about the incident. That person said they were in the park with Avila and another minor when Avila said he was meeting somebody to get a phone. The three met with the person when Avila punched the person and left with the phone.

On Dec. 1, officers spoke with Avila; he admitted to being at Lucerne Park but didn’t recall taking the phone. Avila said he received the phone from a friend. That same day, Avila was in possession of the stolen phone.

Avila was booked in the Kosciusko County Jail on Dec. 15, with a $10,250 surety and cash bond.