An Atlantic City man is charged in two violent robberies, including one in which he allegedly beat a 74-year-old woman.
Jose R. Rivera, 50, was arrested Tuesday, after an investigation by Detective Sterling Wheaten.
Rivera allegedly went into the Maytag Laundromat on South Florida Avenue armed with a screwdriver at about 7:20 a.m. Monday.
He then began to punch and kick the elderly woman, and stole her money and cell phone, Sgt. Kevin Fair said.
The victim was treated for her injuries at AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center’s City Campus.
The suspect fled before officers arrived. But Wheaten was able to identify Rivera as the suspect, and arrested Rivera on Tuesday, with help from detectives of the Violent Crimes Unit on the beach block of Bellevue Avenue, Fair said.
As the investigation continued, Rivera was also linked to an unsolved Feb. 8 robbery at La Tipica convenience store at 2500 Arctic Ave., Fair said.
Rivera was trying to steal items from the store when an 18-year-old employee tried to stop Rivera, and was assaulted.
Rivera is in the Atlantic County Justice Facility on two counts of robbery, aggravated assault, unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.
He has a detention hearing set for Thursday.
