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August 13, 2008

Three charged with robbing Union party at gunpoint

Three people accused of invading a Union Township party at gunpoint last month face more than 100 charges apiece.

Union Township police said some of the people attending the party were forced to remove their clothing.

Devon Carmen, 27, of 519 Highland Ave., and Calvin Waters Jr., 28, whose addresses were given as 1146 Parkwood Court and of 345 Halco Drive, were arrested Friday. They were arraigned before District Judge Jennifer Nicholson.

Tiffany Taylor, 29, whose last known address was 4 St. Charles Place, was arrested later. She was arraigned by District Judge Melissa Amodie.

All three face multiple felony charges and are in the Lawrence County jail on $100,000 bonds, awaiting preliminary hearings scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Thursday in Central Court.

Carmen, Waters and Taylor are accused of forcing their way into a home in the 1600 block of West Washington Street just after midnight July 19, while a party attended by many juveniles was in progress.

Officers were told that as three of the partygoers were leaving the second floor apartment, two men and a woman forced them back inside at gunpoint.

The male suspects had covered their mouths and noses, and woman, who carried a board, did not cover her face.

Police allege that the intruders threatened to shoot everyone in the room.

The 15 party attendees were forced to the floor and ordered not to look at the intruders, police said.

The victims told police Taylor repeatedly hit things in the room with the board, knocking over full beer cans and other containers, while all three suspects asked �Where is the money and the drugs?�

When no one answered, they asked who owned the house and forced everyone in the room to remove their clothing, police said.

The males were ordered to strip down to their boxers and place their wallets, cell phones and jewelry into black bags that the intruders had with them.

Two females � one a juvenile � were ordered to take off all of their clothes.

Police said one female tried to leave her underpants on, but one of the men ripped them off of her. The girl then was told to sit in a chair with her legs and arms spread apart. When she refused, the male suspects forced her legs apart and touched her inappropriately, police reported.

Police said the intruders then turned again to the homeowner, demanding money and drugs. When the owner spoke up, he was kicked and beaten repeatedly, then dragged into his bedroom which was searched by Taylor and one of the male suspects, police allege.

Officers learned that the owner was struck in the head with one of the guns and that Taylor hit him numerous times with the board.

When no money or drugs were produced, the owner was struck on the head again with the gun, police allege, and suspects then overturned living room furniture looking for drugs and money.

One partygoer told police he was hit twice on the head with a gun.

When the homeowner tried to crawl into the living room, he was hit again and kicked in the ribs and head until he lost consciousness, police allege.

Police were told many other juveniles in the apartment were either kicked by the male suspects or hit by the female with the board.

Officers said the intruders left with the stolen merchandise, threatening the victims not to get up or to watch the leave or they would be shot.

A juvenile not present during the actual robbery later told police he saw a gold Jeep Cherokee with one headlight out, leaving the area.

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