Man says group of teens chased, assaulted & robbed him in Canton

CANTON (WBFF) — A 53-year-old man says he was chased, assaulted and robbed by a group of teenagers in broad daylight in Baltimore’s Canton neighborhood this week.

Richard Dreves told FOX45 the encounter began when a group of about six teenagers approached him and demanded his shoes and watch. When he refused, he said they followed him for several blocks, harassing him along the way, before eventually taking his watch.

“They stayed behind me, throwing rocks at me and swinging sticks at me,” Dreves said, “The more I ignored them, the more mad they got.”

Dreves also claims, at one point, their threats escalated.

“He pulled his backpack off, and he pulled a gun out, and he brandished just the handle and where the bullets dispense at. He said, ‘Man, I’ll shoot you,’” Dreves claimed.

The confrontation came to a head in the 600 block of South Bradford Street, where Dreves said he noticed neighbors outside and decided to turn around and confront the group.

“I seen that I at least had somebody that was there with me,” he said. “I chased them back out the alley.”

Home surveillance video obtained by FOX45 shows Dreves walking through the alley while yelling at the group. Moments later, the teenagers can be seen following behind him, with one appearing to carry a brick. The group briefly disappears from view before reemerging and running away as Dreves chases after them.

Baltimore Police confirmed officers responded to the incident shortly after, but say so far, no arrests have been made.

Dreves estimates the group ranged in age from about 12-to-17-years-old.

In addition to the cuts and bruises Dreves suffered on his arms and back, neighbors told FOX45 the teens smashed flowerpots and threw a brick through a garage window before fleeing.

The incident comes as overall violent crime in Baltimore has declined, but Dreves argues juvenile crime seems to be going the opposite direction.

“They do a walkthrough in bookings then they’re out the same night,” he said, referring to young offenders. “No structure at home. Their parents don’t care what they do. They get signed right out of jail. It doesn’t matter.”