Pottsville Police say on August 27, 2017 at 9:15am, Pottsville Police officers were dispatched to 406 West Market St. for a reported robbery.
At the scene, a 40 year old Pottsville man told the officers that during the previous evening two men had forced their way into his residence and assaulted him while demanding to be told the location of a safe they mistakenly thought he had in the apartment.
He further reported that the men had brandished a handgun and he had been struck in the head with the gun before being thrown down a flight of steps several times and punched and kicked by both males.
He also told officers that the men had stolen his cellphone and told him that if he reported the incident to the police they would send their friends to kill him.
One of the actors then took his picture on a phone and said they would send it to their friends. The victim sustained multiple lacerations, contusions and an injured right ankle and was transported to a medical facility for treatment.
While still on scene officers learned that four additional adult victims had been threatened at gunpoint by the same actors while they were present during the incident and they were forced to remain during the attack on the 40 year old male. The actors had also stolen two cellphones from this group.
Witnesses reported hearing what they thought was a shot fired and investigators recovered a spent 9mm bullet casing from the scene but there was no evidence to suggest anyone was wounded by gunfire.
The subsequent investigation by Pottsville Bureau of Police officers led to the identification of Shawnelle Alexander Young (23, Pottsville) as being one of the actors involved who had brandished a gun and participated in the assault, unlawful restraint, attempted robbery of a safe, and robbery of the cell phones. Young had also been groping the females and making lewd comments during the incident.
A criminal complaint was prepared by arresting officer Ptlm. Joseph Krammes and Det. Kirk Becker charging Young with 3 counts of Criminal Conspiracy to Commit Robbery, Robbery, Criminal Attempt to Commit Robbery, 5 counts of Unlawful Restraint, 5 counts of False Imprisonment, 3 counts of Theft, 3 counts of Receiving Stolen Property, Simple Assault, 5 counts of Recklessly Endangering Another Person, and 5 counts of Terroristic Threats. An arrest warrant for Young was then issued by MDJ Reiley.
On August 28th, 2017 at approximately 1:40am, Pottsville Bureau of Police watch 1 officers took Young into custody at 411 Harrison Street without further incident. He was arraigned by MDJ Reiley and remanded to the SCP in lieu of $100,000 cash bail.
The investigation is continuing and police are working on identifying the second actor, known by the nickname “BoyBoy” or “BoiBoi”.
Subsequent investigation by several officers led to the identification of EDWIN BOAKAI SHERMAN, of New Jersey, as being the male known as “BoiBoi” and confirmation that he had actively participated in the armed robbery incident of 08/27/17 at 406 W. Market Street.
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| Photo of Edwin Sherman |
A criminal complaint charging Sherman with Criminal Conspiracy to Commit Robbery, Robbery, Criminal Attempt to Commit Robbery, Unlawful Restraint, False Imprisonment, Theft, Receiving Stolen Property, Simple Assault, Recklessly Endangering Another Person, and Terroristic Threats was completed by Det. Kirk Becker on 08/30/17 and an arrest warrant was issued by MDC 21-3-07.
Anyone with information on Sherman’s current location is asked to call the Pottsville Bureau of Police at 570-628-3792 or the local law enforcement agency where Sherman is known to be. Information will be kept confidential if requested by the caller.