Couple Uses Hammer to Beat Man and Steal Three Cell Phones, Police Say

A man and a woman attacked an employee as he was closing the Wireless Connect store at 7207 Manchester in Maplewood Dec. 19. The man told Maplewood Police the couple hit him in the face several times with a hammer and hit and kicked him.

They also took three cell phones that the employee was carrying in a bag.

Teresa M. Moss, 18, of the 2200 block of Yale Avenue in Maplewood, and Arvell Pruitt, 19, of the 1600 block of Glenechort Drive in Hillsdale, were charged Sunday with first-degree assault and first-degree robbery.

Maplewood Police said the man had numerous injuries, and his eye was swollen shut.

Maplewood Police arrested Moss, who admitted hitting the employee with a hammer and kicking him. Pruitt later turned himself in, admitted striking the victim and taking the cell phones, according to the police report.

The victim and a witness identified Moss and Pruitt in a photo lineup, police said.

Bond was set at $100,000 each for Moss and Pruitt. They both were being held in St. Louis County jail on Wednesday.

For more crime information on Maplewood-Brentwood Patch, see the following articles:

• Rock Hill Armed Robbery Suspect on Brentwood Store Surveillance Video
• Man Charged With Child Abuse While Punishing 8-Year-Old