Teenagers charged in robbery on U-M's North Campus
Two teenagers face multiple felonies after being charged with robbing a University of Michigan student of his cellphone and then hitting him with a car.
Mark Jones, 18, and Billy Venson, 18, both face a charge of unarmed robbery, assault with a deadly weapon and delivery of marijuana, according to court records. According to police, Jones and Venson were the only two suspects in the robbery on the afternoon of April 4 in the 1700 block of Cram Circle.
According to police, a U-M student was walking along the sidewalk on Cram Circle talking on his cellphone. An unknown man snuck up behind him and grabbed his cellphone before jumping into a black Dodge Charger that was waiting for him, police said.
As the men drove away from the scene, the car hit the student, police said. The student wasn’t injured in the collision.
Venson and Jones were arrested about an hour later in the 600 block of Oxford Road after a traffic stop revealed they were in possession of marijuana, police said.
Venson and Jones were arraigned on Saturday and are being held in the Washtenaw County Jail. They both have a $75,000 cash or surety bond, according to court records.
Preliminary exams for the two men are scheduled for 8:30 a.m. April 19.
Kyle Feldscher covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kylefeldscher@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.
Comments
Jeff Renner
Tue, Apr 10, 2012 : 3:05 a.m.
"An unknown man snuck up behind him ..." So is snuck in the annarbor.com style book now?
Steve
Tue, Apr 10, 2012 : 10:51 a.m.
Actually, the verb is "Snuck up". I snuck up, you snuck up, he/she snuck up, etc.
Townie
Mon, Apr 9, 2012 : 9:54 p.m.
So where were the two teenagers from ? Washtenaw County ? Wish someone (like a copy editor) would ask the basic questions readers end up asking themselves. Were they locals or what? If you don't know then say so.
Ricardo Queso
Mon, Apr 9, 2012 : 9:47 p.m.
The alleged will be in serious trouble if they hit the victim in a crosswalk!
A2comments
Mon, Apr 9, 2012 : 8:08 p.m.
Way to go, nabbing them so quickly! Prosecute, no mercy, full extent of the law.
Suzanne
Mon, Apr 9, 2012 : 7:42 p.m.
Teenagers? 18- sounds like adults to me! Unarmed robbery? They were armed with a car! luckily, the student wasn't injured!
tomnspats
Tue, Apr 10, 2012 : 2:33 p.m.
note to parents 18 is an adult.talk to your child and let them know 18 years old will put them in big boy jail.
UlyssesWrong1
Tue, Apr 10, 2012 : 5:54 a.m.
18 is a teenage year.
EyeHeartA2
Mon, Apr 9, 2012 : 7:33 p.m.
Charged = Photo? Isn't that the policy?
EyeHeartA2
Mon, Apr 9, 2012 : 11:34 p.m.
Thank you. I get it that you are balancing speed and completeness.
Kyle Feldscher
Mon, Apr 9, 2012 : 7:41 p.m.
It is. I've requested the photos from the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office and have yet to get a response.
leezee
Mon, Apr 9, 2012 : 5:06 p.m.
I run in that area and always feel safe. Guess I'd better be a bit more observant in the future since I run with my phone and Ipod with me.
Roy Munson
Mon, Apr 9, 2012 : 5:27 p.m.
It isn't "safe" anymore in any part of the city. Be careful. It is a jungle out there.