Charges have been laid after a Chatham teen was attacked while fishing by the Thames River.
According to police, the victim was under the Fifth Street Bridge Monday afternoon when a man approached, assaulted the teen, and stole his camouflage backpack full of fishing gear.
The victim gave chase but lost sight of the accused downtown. However, he was able to give authorities a description, and an officer on patrol spotted the suspect on Semenyn Avenue Tuesday morning carrying the backpack and a Hibiscus tree.
It turns out the tree had been stolen from Sarah’s Farm Market on Sandys Street earlier that morning.
The 31-year-old accused is charged with robbery, theft, and possession of stolen property.
