Tavar J. Jones, 24, of 31 Tyler St., Springfield, was charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, armed assault with intent to rob, carrying a firearm without a license and possession of cocaine and ammo in connection with an attempted armed robbery of a pregnant teenager in the city's Forest Park section, said Sgt. John Delaney, spokesman for Springfield police Commissioner William Fitchet.

(Springfield Police Department)

SPRINGFIELD — Police arrested an Old Hill man for allegedly placing a loaded gun to a pregnant teenager's head and demanding cash during an attempted street robbery Monday morning.

Tavar J. Jones, 24, of 31 Tyler St. was arrested around 8:15 a.m. and charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, armed assault with intent to rob, carrying a firearm without a license and possession of cocaine and ammo, said Sgt. John Delaney, spokesman for Springfield police Commissioner William Fitchet.

Delaney said the incident happened around 8 a.m. in the vicinity of 147 Allen St. in the city's Forest Park neighborhood. A 19-year-old woman was walking near that address when she was approached by a black man wearing a red hoodie and blue jeans, Delaney said.

Jones placed a gun to her temple and demanded cash, Delaney said. The woman told Jones she was pregnant and didn't have any money, said Delaney, adding that Jones then fled the scene empty-handed.

Officer Daniel Brunton, a member of the Police Department's special Forest Park BADGE unit, spotted a man who matched the robber's description near 1 Allen St. and called for backup. Officer James Crogan responded to the scene and helped Brunton take Jones into custody, Delaney said.

The officers confiscated a loaded .22-caliber handgun and three bags of cocaine found in Jones' backpack, Delaney said.

The victim, who's five months pregnant, identified Jones as her assailant, Delaney said. Jones has past arrests and is known to city police, he said.

Arraignment information wasn't immediately available. It's unknown if Jones has a lawyer.