Three youths charged in assault on city man BY CHRISTINE VARNO Staff Writer LONG BRANCH -- Members of a group of juvenile males ranging in age from 13 to 16 years old are facing charges for allegedly robbing a Long Branch man last week. Another juvenile and a 22-year-old Long Branch man are also facing charges after police allegedly uncovered drugs in their possession as a result of an investigation into the robbery. On Sept. 25 at approximately 9:45 p.m., city police officers were dispatched to Westwood Avenue for a report of a 50-year-old man being assaulted, according to police. Police officers arrived at the scene and after a foot chase through Cherry Street Park, one of the suspects was found hiding in a shed in the area and was taken into custody, police report. Upon speaking with the victim, police said they learned that a robbery had taken place and the juvenile in custody was positively identified by the victim as being involved in the robbery, according to reports. The victim told police that he was walking home in the area of Westwood Avenue, when he was approached by a group of four juveniles and was forcibly held from behind by one of the juveniles while another demanded money from him. According to police, the victim told the juveniles that he did not have any money and one of the juveniles punched him in the face twice as he was still being held with his arms behind his back. The victim called for help and a friend of the victim in a nearby apartment looked out the window and said he was calling the police which caused the youths to flee according to police. The victim sustained minor injuries to his nose and mouth area and refused medical treatment, police said. The City's Detective Bureau further investigated the robbery and made two additional arrests, both of which were juvenile males, according to reports. The three juveniles were arrested and charged with robbery and resisting arrest, according to reports. Police are still seeking one additional juvenile in connection with the robbery. On the night of the robbery, police were in the area of the crime scene searching for additional suspects, when one officer observed a parked vehicle with its interior lights illuminated. Upon approaching the vehicle, officers said they found Victor M. Santos-Luna, 22, of Long Branch, sitting in the vehicle with a juvenile and observed what they believed to be marijuana in plain view on the console of the car, according to police reports. Officers then reported locating additional marijuana packaged in baggies within the vehicle. Santos-Luna was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana, possession with intent to distribute and distribution within a school zone, according to police. He was transported to the Monmouth County Correctional Institution and bail was set at $10,000 with no 10 percent option. The juvenile in the car was also arrested and charged with several drug offenses and was transported to the Youth Detention Center in Freehold, according to police.