18-Year-Old Ventura Man Busted For Stealing Cell Phone

VENTURA (CBSLA.com) — Officials in Ventura announced the arrest Saturday of an 18-year-old they said strong-armed  a man out of his cell phone.

Christopher Czechorowski, a Ventura resident, is accused of robbery.

Authorities said on Saturday, around 11:30 a.m., Czechorowski was walking in the area of Montgomery Avenue and Montgomery Place when he approached a stranger and asked to use his cell phone.

Police said instead of returning the phone, Czechorowski threatened to harm the man and his family if they didn't give up the phone willingly.

The victim reportedly fled. Police took a report from the victim but were unable to locate the suspect.

Several hours later, officers received a 911 call about a disturbance at Paramount Cleaners, a laundromat located in the 9200 block of Telephone Road.

Officials later described the disturbance as a physical altercation between Czechorowski and a family member of the alleged theft victim who recognized the suspect. After a brief struggle, Czechorowski was subdued and detained by the family member who reportedly sustained minor injuries during the scuffle.

After police arrived to break up the scuffle, they said Czechorowski was still in possession of the stolen phone.

Czechorowski was booked into the Ventura County Jail on robbery charges and booked for additional outstanding warrants, police said.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the Ventura Police Department at (805) 339-4441.