Police arrested a man they are calling the ringleader in a string of Baltimore street robberies.
Joseph Coates, 18, was charged with multiple counts of robbery, theft, assault and weapons charges in connection to at least two recent “bump and rob” incidents.
Police said around midnight May 12, a minivan hit a motorcyclist on Clipper Heights Avenue, knocking the motorcyclist off of his bike. Police determined through video evidence it was Coates who jumped out of the minivan and rode off on the stolen bike. Police Spokesman TJ Smith said Coates was not taken into custody at that time.
On July 16 a group of suspects got out of a vehicle on 42nd Street and robbed a man at gunpoint. Video evidence again pointed to Coates, who was then arrested.
Smith said police believe Coates is the ringleader of a group that targets individuals in bump-and-rob and street robberies.
