HIALEAH, Fla. – Hialeah police arrested two men Tuesday who they said were involved in the robbery of a teenage boy earlier this month.
According to an arrest report, the teen was walking home in the area of West 34th Lane and 76th Street and texting on his cellphone when a man, identified as Alejandro Mustafa, 19, ran up behind him and snatched the phone out of his hands.
Surveillance video shows the teen running after the thief in an attempt to retrieve his phone.
Police said Mustafa's getaway driver, Zabdi Gil, 18, struck the victim as the victim chased Mustafa, knocking the victim to the ground and nearly running him over.
Authorities said Mustafa eventually got into the car and the thieves drove north on West 34th Lane.
Hialeah police said a Miami-Dade school board sergeant recognized Mustafa from a be-on-the-lookout that was issued for the thieves.
Police said the victim also identified Mustafa in a photo lineup.
Authorities said Mustafa confessed to the robbery and implicated Gil as the getaway driver.
Both men face charges of strong-arm robbery.