Steve Lieberman

slieberm@lohud.com

Ramapo police identify four young men charged with robbing an acquaintance.

Arrests made in Sloatsburg hours after Pomona ribbery

Victim's face swollen when cell phone stolen

Ramapo police Tuesday identified four young men charged with robbing an acquaintance of his cell phone outside the young man's Pomona house early Monday.

Detectives continue to investigate the circumstances of the robbery and the relationship between the victim and the people arrested, Ramapo Detective Lt. Mark Emma said.

Emma said one of the accused robbers knew the victim, whose face was swollen after he said he was lured outside his home on Sherwood Ridge Road in Pomona and assaulted at about 12:30 a.m.

A black weapon used during the assault turned out to be a replica gun, which looked like a real gun, Emma said.

The victim was able to identify one of the suspects and gave police an address in Sloatsburg, Emma said. Police arrested the four men 2 1/2 hours later at a home in Sloatsburg and recovered the phone.

Charged with second-degree robbery for the alleged phone theft are Moshe Blitzstein, 18, of Orange Turnpike, Sloatsburg; Marvin Paul, 22, of North Main Street, Spring Valley; Edwin Thezan, 26, of Roosevelt Avenue, Spring Valley; and Roberto Labonte, 24, of Roosevelt Avenue, Spring Valley.

Anyone with information can call the Ramapo Police Department at 845-357-2400