Five teenagers are facing charges in connection with a brazen street robbery in Pickering on Wednesday afternoon.
Police say that the teens were travelling in a stolen Honda Civic when they approached a 20-year-old man near Dellbrook Avenue and Brock Road shortly after 2 p.m.
At that point, police say three of the teens exited the car and proceeded to grab the man by his neck and demand that he hand over his shoes.
The man then attempted to flee the scene at which point the car struck him on the leg, police say.
The suspects subsequently fled the scene; however officers were able to locate the vehicle on Valley Farm Road.
When officers attempted to stop the vehicle, police allege that it sped away but ultimately rolled onto its roof after failing to negotiate a turn a short distance away.
Police arrested all five suspects as they attempted to flee the scene of the crash on foot.
Paul Fernandez, 19, of Ajax, Tyrell Francis, 18, of Toronto and three 16-year-old males from the Ajax/ Pickering area are each charged with robbery and possession of stolen property. Francis is also charged with dangerous driving and failure to stop in connection with the police pursuit.
As well, police say that investigators have determined that Fernandez, Francis and one of the 16-year-old suspects were involved in an incident on Aug. 19 in which a male victim was forcibly taken to his residence where the suspects ransacked his home and then demanded cash from his family for his safe return.
The trio are each charged with kidnapping, robbery, intimidation and uttering threats in connection with that incident.
