QUEENS — A 17-year-old boy who allegedly threatened a Bronx dad and his son before stealing the dad's iPhone on Wednesday evening was arrested minutes later by a pair of quick-thinking cops near the 7 train, police said.
An unidentified Bronx man and his 4-year-old son were visiting Elmhurst on Wednesday when police said they were approached by alleged Sureño 13 gang member Louis Barragan, 17, in front of 89-52 Elmhurst Ave. about 6:30 p.m.
Barragan, who is also from The Bronx, asked the man what he was doing in the neighborhood, then threatened him, police said.
"Do you want me to hurt you?" Barragan allegedly said.
"I don't want any problems," the man replied, according to police. "I'm here with my son."
Barragan then snatched the man's iPhone and ran south on 90th Street, police said.
Officers from the 110th Precinct arrived a short time later and transmitted a description of the suspect over the radio.
When officers Richard Harris and Frank Cantalino from the nearby 115th Precinct heard the description, they guessed that the suspect would board the 7 train at 90th Street and get off a stop later at Junction Boulevard, police said.
There, the two cops stopped a man matching Barragan's description. The victim was brought to the location, where he positively identified Barragan as the phone thief, police said. Officers allegedly found two iPhones on Barragan's possession, one belonging to the victim.
Barragan, who police said has an extensive robbery-arrest record, was charged as an adult with grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property, prosecutors said.
