Crime & Safety

Craigslist iPhone Sale Turns into Braintree Armed Robbery

The following information was supplied by the Braintree Police Department. Where arrests or charges are mentioned, it does not indicate a conviction.

A 36-year-old Quincy man was assaulted during an attempted purchase of an iPhone 5 on Hobart Avenue in Braintree on Saturday night.

Two people – an unknown man and a 27-year-old Boston woman – allegedly robbed the man and struck him, sending the Quincy man to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries, Chief Russell Jenkins said in a statement.

The victim and his friend went to a home on Hobart Avenue after seeing an advertisement for the phone on Craigslist. Police do not believe either assailant has a connection to the street.

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When they arrived, the Quincy man and his friend saw that the phone was different than advertised and attempted to leave, Jenkins said. At that point, the unknown male pulled a gun, struggled with the victim and then hit him in the face with the butt of the gun, Jenkins said the victim reported. The Boston woman also stole the man's cell phone.

Police later identified the woman as Sukia O. Omere based on a registration number that was attached to a Land Rover fitting the description of the vehicle used in the crime. The cell phone number that the Quincy man called to get the iPhone also came back to Omere, Jenkins said.

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"Officer Mark Sherrick and Detective Charles Paris, assisted by officers assigned to the Boston Police Department Youth Violence Strike Force went to Omere’s Boston home, located the Land Rover in her driveway, questioned her and ultimately returned to Braintree with her for further questioning," Jenkins said.

Omere was arrested on Sunday and charged with armed robbery, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, larceny from a person, larceny under $250 and witness intimidation.

Police are also seeking warrants for Omere's home and cell phone and are looking for the unknown man.


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