JACKSON HEIGHTS — A gutsy teen thwarted thieves who tried to steal her cellphone — by jumping into their getaway car as they drove away, police said.
The 13-year-old victim was walking on 32nd Avenue and 87th Street at 7:20 a.m. on Feb. 25 when George Macias, 24, asked to borrow her Samsung Galaxy phone, according to the NYPD.
When the victim didn't hand it over, Macias grabbed it and fled, jumping into the driver's side of a nearby car with his girlfriend Marlen Telalyan, 19, in the passenger seat, according to the Queens district attorney's criminal complaint.
The victim told police she dove into the driver's side of the car after Macias to get her phone back and he drove away as she was hanging out of the car, according to the criminal complaint.
The car crashed into a wall and the victim, still just half in the car, continued to fight with Macias, police said. Telalyan repeatedly hit the victim in the head during the struggle, and the victim retaliated by pulling Telalyan's hair, police said.
During the melee the victim managed to get her phone and Macias drove off, police said.
It's not clear if the victim was treated for any injuries sustained in the incident.
Police from the 115th Precinct arrested Macias and Telalyan on March 4 and they were arraigned the next day, according to the district attorney's office.
Both were charged with robbery, reckless endangerment and endangering the welfare of a child, according to the DA.
A lawyer for Telalyan said she pleaded not guilty, but declined to give further comment. A message left for Macias' lawyer was not returned.
