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WILKES-BARRE — An arrest warrant was issued Monday for a Wilkes-Barre man who allegedly took part in the armed robbery of two women who were lured to a North Grant Street apartment to buy narcotics.
Police charged William J. Lynn, 24, of Ralph Street, with taking part in the robbery at 44 N. Grant St. on Saturday.
Lynn allegedly lured a 19-year-old woman from Nanticoke and an 18-year-old woman from Plymouth to the apartment to sell Percocet when they were robbed by two other men who were armed.
According to the criminal complaint and police:
The two women told police they were contacted on social media by Lynn asking if they wanted to buy Percocet. They met Lynn in the area of Amber Lane and South Sherman Street, and followed him to the apartment on North Grant Street.
Lynn entered the apartment while the women waited in a vehicle. The women claimed another man drove away in Lynn’s vehicle and afterwards, Lynn exited the apartment asking for a ride to Walmart to look for his vehicle.
They later returned to North Grant Street, where Lynn allegedly showed them a bag of pills and asked them to go inside the apartment to make the deal.
Once inside the apartment, the women claimed another man inside shut the door and brandished a handgun.
One of the women claimed she was separated from her friend and taken into a room and was told at gunpoint to strip her clothes. When she refused, Lynn reached into her shirt and removed cash from her bra. Lynn also removed money from her purse and took her cellphone and car keys.
The other woman told police another man took her into a room and demanded money while brandishing a handgun. She shook her shirt indicating she wasn’t hiding money in her bra.
Lynn and the two other men ran out of the house and sped away in a vehicle.
Police said a surveillance camera recorded the two men entering the apartment at 9:25 p.m., and were shortly followed by Lynn and two women. The camera recorded Lynn and the two other men running out at 9:50 p.m. and the two women leaving one minute later, the complaint says.
Police believe Lynn and the two other men got away with $120 crash, a Samsung Prime S7 cell phone, a wallet and car keys.
Lynn is facing two counts of robbery, and one count each of theft, receiving stolen property, harassment and simple assault.
Police described the two other suspects as black males. One suspect has a thin build and had a hood pulled tightly around his face. The other is about 5 feet 10 inches to 6 feet tall, thin to average build, and had a zip up hooded sweatshirt and jogger pants.
Police said the two women may face charges.