Police investigate after man’s cellphone taken, gun pointed

A man told police that a boy, who appeared to be 12 to 15 years old, ran off with his cellphone then pointed a gun at him after he asked for the suspect to give it back, authorities said.

“Back off,” the victim told Conway police the young suspect said as he pointed a black handgun at him and a friend, according to a police report.

Officers were called about 8 p.m. Tuesday to the area of Ninth Avenue in Conway where a 17-year-old victim reported the incident, police said.

The victim told police he and his friend were walking in the area of Grainger and Leonard Avenue when they were approached by the suspect, who asked to use the victim’s cellphone, authorities said.

The victim said he lent the suspect his cellphone, and the suspect then changed the victim’s cellphone password and ran off with it.

The victim said he and his friend chased the suspect to the area of the Huckabee Heights housing complex, and the suspect pulled a handgun out from nearby bushes and pointed it at the victim and his friend, according to the report.

Police said they searched the area, but didn’t find the suspect.

The victim’s friend told authorities he recognized the suspect, but didn’t want to press charges due to the suspect’s alleged gang affiliation, police said.

This story was originally published July 31, 2015 at 6:29 AM with the headline "Police investigate after man’s cellphone taken, gun pointed."