Six facing charges in connection to robbery

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NAUGATUCK — Police have charged six people in connection with an armed robbery of two teenagers Sunday at Salem Park.

Anthony Alvarado, 19, James Bridges, Jr., 22, Achaunti Strong, 18, Jonathan Oniell-Kunkel, 18, and an unidentified 15-year-old were arrested Sunday night after police say they robbed two juveniles at gunpoint of $200 and an iPhone.

Police said the robbery occurred shortly before 5 p.m. Achaunti held a handgun, which was later determined to be a BB gun, to one of the victims’ head and hit him several times with it, police said.

The victim didn’t suffer serious injuries, police said.

After taking the money and cell phone, police said, the five men ran from the area. A witness told police they were picked up in a car and driven to 21 Olive St., where they entered an apartment, police said.

When officers arrived at the apartment, police said, 40-year-old Joanne Alvarado, who lives at the apartment, refused to open the door. The officers waited it out and were eventually let inside, police said, where the five men were found hiding in the apartment.

Joanne Alvarado, who is Anthony Alvarado’s mother, was the driver that picked up the men after the robbery and drove them to the apartment, police said. She was charged with third-degree hindering prosecution.

Information on whether the victims knew the men and the circumstances that led up to the robbery wasn’t immediately available Monday morning.

Anthony Alvarado, of Naugatuck, and Bridges, of Waterbury, were charged with first-degree robbery, conspiracy at first-degree robbery, interfering with an officer, fourth-degree larceny, conspiracy at fourth-degree larceny and breach of peace.

Strong, of Naugatuck, was charged with first-degree robbery, conspiracy at first-degree robbery, interfering with an officer, fourth-degree larceny, conspiracy at fourth-degree larceny, breach of peace, second-degree assault, and sale, carrying and brandishing of facsimile firearms.

Joanne Alvarado, Anthony Alvarado, Strong and Bridges were all held on bond and scheduled to appear in Waterbury Superior Court Monday.

Oniell-Kunkel, of Naugatuck, was charged with interfering with an officer and released on a non-surety bond.

The 15-year-old, who lives in Naugatuck, was charged with first-degree robbery, conspiracy at first-degree robbery and interfering with an officer. He was taken to the Bridgeport Juvenile Detention