Three Arrested in Strong-Arm Robbery

Police arrested three young men who punched a man in the face and robbed him in downtown West Orange earlier this week. 

Jermain Fields, 19; Lamont Nelson, 18; and a 17-year-old, all from East Orange, were arrested Tuesday night after they robbed a man standing on Joyce Street.

Fields and Nelson were charged with second-degree robbery and conspiracy, while the 17-year-old awaits charges as a juvenile. 

The three men walked up to a man, jumped him and punched him in the face as he was waiting in front of the West Orange Self Storage, at 17 Central Ave.

The three men took the man’s wallet -- which contained $65 in cash and credit cards -- and ran.

Orange police officers spotted the three young men running from behind 545 Central Ave. and questioned them. At that time, West Orange police were in the area and the victim was able to positively identify the three males. 

The man's face was swollen from the beating. He taken to Saint Barnabas Medical Center for his injuries. The man also got his wallet back. 

Fields and Nelson are currently being held at the Essex County Correctional Facility in Newark. Their bail is set at $50,000. The 17-year-old was sent to the Essex County Youth House. 

[This article has been updated: The robbery occurred on Joyce Street, not Central Avenue as previously reported.]