Two Pawtucket men accused in Providence muggings

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The two Pawtucket men had taken several late-night excursions on the East Side and downtown, the police said, and mugged pedestrians along the way.

Until early Thursday morning, when their third victim of the week got a good look at their getaway car's license plate, which helped police track the men down barely 10 minutes after their latest crime, said Maj. Thomas F. Oates III.

Nunu Kollie, 23, and Gerson Semedo, 19, both already with criminal records, are now charged in three muggings that occurred over the last week.

They shoved a woman to the ground for her purse on Thayer Street early Saturday morning, robbed another woman with a baseball bat on Benefit Street late Wednesday night, and grabbed a cell phone from a young man walking through downtown just after 1 a.m. on Thursday, Oates said.

But 19-year-old Andrew Walski chased the muggers several blocks to Clifford Street, where the men suddenly stopped and told him they "didn't want any trouble," Oates said.

When he demanded his phone, one of the muggers pulled out something that looked like a weapon and told Walski, "run your pockets," Oates said. Walski ran -- but hung back long enough to note the license plate of the getaway car, Oates said.

Ten minutes later, Officer Michael Cileli spotted the car on Broad Street in Washington Park, and arrested the two men. The driver was released, Oates said.

After questioning Kollie and Semedo, Detective Robert Melaragno was able to connect them with the muggings on Thayer Street and Benefit Street, Oates said.

Kollie, of 254 Japonica, Pawtucket, is charged with first-degree robbery, larceny, and conspiracy. Semedo, of 817 Main St., Pawtucket, is charged with first-degree robbery, conspiracy, and two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon.