Teen choked, robbed by pot-smoking buds

HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) - What started out as a good time out with friends turned into a crime investigation in Van Buren County.

Deputies were dispatched at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday to a residence in the 50000 block of M-51 in Hamilton Township for a reported assault.

Deputies arrived and learned a 17-year-old male from Decatur had been assaulted and robbed by three of his acquaintances. He was complaining of neck pain after being choked.

The teen said he and the suspects earlier were driving around in a minivan and smoking marijuana, according to a news release.

They then drove back to the victim's residence where police said a 17-year-old male suspect from Decatur began to hit and choke the victim in the vehicle.

As this was happening, an 18-year-old male suspect from Decatur took $70 and a cellphone from the victim's pockets, police said.

The victim was then thrown out of the van where he fled to his home and called police.

A 19-year-old female from Decatur was driving the van, and sped away from the scene and sideswiped an unoccupied parked vehicle, resulting in minor damage to that car.

The victim gave police the suspects' identities, and police were able to track them down in their hometown.

Police found the victim's stolen money, which was with the male suspects, and returned it to him, but could not locate his cellphone.

The two male suspects were arrested on strong arm robbery charges. The female suspect was not arrested as charges are pending.

The motive for this incident is unknown as the investigation continues.