Two men were arrested yesterday for attempting to rob a 20-year-old male student at approximately 2:10 a.m. Sunday near the intersection of 42nd and Pine streets.
An independent witness -- who asked not to be identified -- claimed to have seen the crime and later helped police identify the alleged robbers.
"I woke up around 1:50 a.m. and looked outside my window because I heard a noise and I saw this guy kicking the victim," the witness said. "I proceeded to call the police after that."
Police said that they noticed a man acting suspiciously during a routine patrol and began toinvestigate. When they approached, the man and a companion began to run west on Pine Street. The victim was left lying on the ground, Penn police Detective Frank DeMeo said.
After a brief chase down Pine Street, police arrested Elijah Bonaparte, 21, and Tony Hinton, 18, both residents of southwest Philadelphia, and took them to to the police station at 55th and Pine streets.
The men were charged with robbery, conspiracy and aggravated simple assault.
"The complainant told police that the men demanded money, then punched him, knocked him to the ground and kicked him in the head," DeMeo said.
No money was stolen from the victim, police said.
DeMeo said the victim may have been walking home at the time of the attack.
A preliminary hearing for the two defendants is scheduled for Jan. 31 at 8 a.m. The hearing will be at the 5500 Pine street station.
