Shelton police charged an Ansonia man with using a machete to rob two teens downtown this month.
In a prepared statement, police said the robbery occurred about 8 p.m. Oct. 3 “in the area of the Riverwalk.”
Police said two males — 16 and 19 — were allegedly approached by 26-year-old Corey Welch, who “asked them if they hung around with a certain person,” according to police.
“The male then pushed the 19 year old victim to the ground and pulled out a machete and put it to his throat,” police said. “The suspect continued to yell and then choked and assaulted the victim. The suspect then took the other victim’s cell phone and other items and threw them into the river. The suspect eventually let go and both victims were able to leave.”
Police said detectives developed Welch as a suspect while investigating the robbery.
Welch has been behind bars since he was arrested by Stratford police the same day as the Shelton robbery and accused of drunk driving and possession of a weapon in a motor vehicle.
Shelton cops charged Welch in the robbery Wednesday at Superior Court in Derby, where he was due to appear in connection with arrests out of Ansonia and Stratford in June and September.
He was charged with first-degree robbery, first-degree assault, carrying a dangerous weapon, and fifth-degree larceny in the Shelton case.
Welch was due to be arraigned on the new charges Wednesday at Derby court.
