Syracuse, NY -- A Syracuse man was taken to a city hospital early Wednesday after he was attacked at a downtown bus stop in a mugging attempt, according to Syracuse police records. John Wessner, 32, of Syracuse, told police he was walking about 12:20 a.m. to a bus stop in the 400 block of South Salina Street when he was...
Syracuse, NY -- A Syracuse man was taken to a city hospital early Wednesday after he was attacked at a downtown bus stop in a mugging attempt, according to Syracuse police records.
John Wessner, 32, of Syracuse, told police he was walking about 12:20 a.m. to a bus stop in the 400 block of South Salina Street when he was approached by another man who asked what was in his pockets.
Wessner told police he attempted to walk into the street to get away from the man and hoping to flag a passing car. While he was in the street, the man sucker-punched him in the mouth with something hard, Wessner said. Wessner fell to the ground and noticed his assailant dropped a Swiss Army Knife.
The man grabbed for his laptop bag and Wessner pulled it back, he said. At that point, the man and two others left the scene, Wessner said.
Wessner described the suspect to police and officers found a man matching that description at 550 S. Clinton St. Wessner was able to positively identify the suspect as his assailant and a Swiss Army Knife was found in his pocket, police said.
Delreon Williams, 18, of 1240 Wadsworth St., Syracuse, was charged with robbery, a felony, and assault and criminal possession of a weapon, both misdemeanors.
Wessner was taken to Upstate University Hospital for treatment of his injuries.