Suspects played basketball with New Albany man, then robbed him, police say

NEW ALBANY ( WCMH ) – A man playing basketball in New Albany was allegedly offered a vape cartridge and robbed at gunpoint by two others Sunday afternoon.

According to the New Albany Police Department, an officer responded to reports of a person with a gun at James River Park, near the intersection of James River Road and Evelyton Road. Police met the victim who said he was playing basketball when two male individuals stopped by the park and began to play basketball with him.

The victim said that the suspects then offered him a “cart,” referring to a marijuana vape cartridge, and the three went to the suspect’s vehicle. Once inside the car, one suspect drove north towards U.S. Route 62 while the other pointed a gun at the victim in the back seat.

The victim said the driver, whom he knew as “Andre,” told him to empty his pockets and kept yelling, “I will kill you” and “I just got out of jail.” Police said the driver repeatedly hit the victim in the head and neck and told him again to empty his pockets.

Police said the suspects took the victim’s Apple iPhone 14, a blue Cheetah phone case, Oakley sunglasses, and Bose headphones. Once at U.S. 62, the suspects told the victim to get out of the car and they would give him his phone back. They drove off without doing so, police said.

Andre Carl, 20, of Columbus’ Northgate neighborhood, was arrested on aggravated robbery charges, according to New Albany police. He was issued a $150,000 bond in Franklin County Municipal Court and is scheduled to appear in court again on April 4 for a preliminary hearing.

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