MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Three Alderson Broaddus University students face charges after a reported assault and robbery at a Morgantown apartment complex.
Officers were called to a residence on University Avenue around 10:00 pm Wednesday.
“The victim reported that three males, whom he was acquainted with, were in his apartment; and they physically assaulted him, took his wallet, a computer and some drug paraphernalia,” explained Morgantown Police Chief Ed Preston.
The victim, who suffered minor injuries and declined treatment, described the suspects and their vehicle, which led to a traffic stop on Grafton Road near Scott Avenue.
Police arrested Marquez Alexander Wing, 20 of Mount Airy, MD, Malik Levon Cobb, 19, of Martinsburg and Daniel Joseph Eppard, 19, of Winchester, VA.
Preston, a guest on Morgantown AM, said crimes among acquaintances are difficult to eliminate.
“A lot of the victims are victims of their lifestyle meaning they are engaged in activities that make them vulnerable to being victimized by some other predatory individuals. Case in point, typically in revolves around the sale or use of drugs,” Preston explained.
All three, identified as students at the Barbour County university, were charged with one count of robbery.
A previous robbery reported at 3:30am Wednesday near the Walnut Street Bridge in downtown Morgantown led to the arrest of two other men.
Police said Jesse Lewis, 22, of Morgantown and Matthew Bailey, 20 of Beckley, charged with First Degree Robbery and Conspiracy.
Preston said they used pepper spray on their victim and assaulted him before robbing him of his wallet and a laptop.
The victim did not know the suspects. But, his description led police to them in a nearby neighborhood not long after the reported assault.
According to Preston, his officers are patrolling many parts of the city at all hours and depend on accurate descriptions to make quick arrests.
“They are patrolling into residential areas of the city and the business areas of the city and looking for suspicious activity and people doing no good.”
