Police say they've arrested another suspect in a string of beatings and robberies earlier this year on the Hollywood Beach Broadwalk.
Samuel Charles Howard, 19, was in bond court Wednesday to face charges of robbery and aggravated battery following his arrest Tuesday.
Police said Howard and 18-year-old Zackary Gonzalez viciously attacked a 76-year-old man on April 10 during his early morning walk.
Police say Paul Spates was in the area of 500 North Broadwalk when he was punched and kicked to the ground by Howard and Gonzalez. While Spates was on the ground, the pair kicked him in the head several times while going through his pockets before hitting him over the head with an unknown object.
The two made off with Spates' watch and house keys and left the scene on foot, leaving Spates lying on the ground with severe injuries. Spates spent several days in the hospital and needed reconstructive surgery on his face.
Gonzalez was one of five people arrested in April in connection with several robberies on the Broadwalk.
Also arrested were Jason A. Noval, Alejandro Perez, Alejandra Balais and John Wakula. All were charged with three similar robberies that happened in the Broadwalk area in March.
The first happened around 1:45 a.m. on March 5, when a man was approached by four white males who asked him for money in the area of 600 North Broadwalk. When he told them he had none, the group pushed him down, kicked and punched him and took his wallet and $300 in cash.
Just four days later, on March 9, a man was approached by a man asking him the time shortly before 11 p.m. in the area of 1200 Hollywood Blvd. The man continued to follow the victim and was joined by two others who hit him in the back of the head and punched him before taking his cell phone and groceries.
An hour later, a woman had her purse snatched by three men and one woman in the area of 600 N. Broadwalk. The victim's male friend was also beaten and his jewelry valued at $16,000 was stolen.
Police said Howard was finally arrested after he was implicated in a phone conversation Gonzalez had from jail. Gonzalez remains behind bars without bond.
Howard was ordered held without bond on a probation violation. It was unknown whether he had an attorney.
