Five teenagers are arrested in Kansas City robbery spree

Five teenagers arrested after a Kansas City police chase Monday are suspected of robbing seven people in a 90-minute spree before they were caught.

Three of the holdups occurred about 3 a.m. Monday within a few blocks of one another in central Kansas City.

One victim, a 37-year-old woman, was pistol-whipped but declined medical treatment. She told police that she was walking near 38th Street and Chestnut Avenue when three gunmen got out of a small blue car and demanded her purse. They fled after striking her.

The purse of a 34-year-old woman walking near 37th and Chestnut was stolen about the same time by an armed man wearing a mask.

Moments later, a blue car pulled next to a man and woman sitting in a car at 37th Street and Prospect Avenue. The 57-year-old man told police that five men armed with handguns demanded the keys to his car. They then fled in the two vehicles.

About 90 minutes later, a woman and two men were walking to a bus stop near 74th Street and Tracy Avenue when a small blue car pulled up and the occupants asked if they had any marijuana. When the victims said no, the car started to leave. It then backed up, and several teens armed with guns got out and ordered the couple to the ground.

They stole the woman’s purse and took money and property from the men, including fake gold teeth.

A few minutes later, patrol officers saw a suspect vehicle and gave chase until the vehicle turned into a cul-de-sac off Bannister Road near State Line Road and was forced to stop. Police arrested five teens, ranging in age from 15 to 17, and found several guns in the car, according to police.

Jackson County prosecutors charged 17-year-old Malcolm L. Brewer of Grandview in connection with the crimes on 74th Street. Another 17-year-old was released pending additional investigation.

Juvenile authorities charged a 15-year-old and two 16-year-olds each with first-degree robbery, armed criminal action and resisting arrest, according to court officials.

This story was originally published October 28, 2014 at 12:27 PM with the headline "Five teenagers are arrested in Kansas City robbery spree."