Teen faces strong-armed robbery, battery charges | Crime

A 16-year-old Middleton teen was identified as one of the three people who robbed a man in the West Towne Mall parking lot on Wednesday afternoon, police said.

Police said the 21-year-old victim met the three teens in the mall and took them to his car so he could give them cigarettes. When they got to the car, the victim said, he was punched and robbed of his wallet.

The victim told police that he is a heroin addict but that the incident was not a drug deal gone bad.

He provided descriptions of the teens to police, and one of the boys was found a short time later, walking on Gammon Road near the Beltline, police said. They said significant amount of money found in the teen's pocket was the exact amount that had been stolen.

The arrested teen was taken to the Juvenile Detention Center, where he punched a 34-year-old employee in the face and chest, police said.

The teen faces charges of strong-armed robbery, resisting arrest, a probation violation and battery by a prisoner, police said. Because he is a minor his name is not being released.