Arrest Made In Violent Robbery Of Elderly Chelsea Man

NEW YORK(CBSNewYork) -- Police have arrested a suspect in connection with the violent robbery of an elderly Manhattan man.

Francisco Flores, 40, is accused of following Ricardo Velez, 92, into his Chelsea home, assaulting him, and running off with his bible and other possessions.

Velez suffered a broken hip during the attack.

CBS 2's John Slattery spoke exclusively to the 92-year-old mugging victim in the hospital on Thursday.

The attack happened at around 11:30 p.m. Monday on West 18th Street.

"I was thinking it's a nightmare," victim Ricardo Velez told Slattery. "I hope it's a nightmare. But it wasn't. It was for real."

Velez's upstairs neighbor, Radames Hernandez, told Slattery his dog heard the attack and barked. Hernandez opened his door and could hear Velez calling out.

""I hear him, 'help, help, help.' I came down and he says 'somebody knocked me down,'" Hernandez said.

Flores has been charged with Second-Degree Robbery and Criminal Possession of Stolen Property.

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