Crime & Safety

How Waltham Police Caught One Alleged Downtown Robber

The Waltham man is facing serious charges in connection with the downtown attacks.

More details have emerged on how police caught a young Waltham man who allegedly committed at least one of the recent downtown robberies.

Yesner Espinal, 20, of 688 Moody St., #2, faces charges for armed robbery, unlawful carrying of a firearm, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, threats to commit a crime (murder). 

Espinal was ordered held without bail after a Dec. 20 dangerousness hearing, according to court records. An attorney was appointed to him and he is scheduled for a Jan. 22 pre-trial hearing.  

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Sources: Waltham District Court records.

·      On Dec. 15, the victim contacted police to report the Nov. 25 robbery. The victim told police he was too scared to report the robbery earlier, but stepped forward after seeing news of others and speaking with his girlfriend.

Find out what's happening in Walthamwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

·      The victim told police he knew Espinal after meeting him during a house party on Moody Street over the summer.

·      To help identify Espinal, the victim showed police Espinal’s Facebook page.

·      The victim recounted the robbery to police saying it occurred Nov. 25 when the victim was parking his car in the Chestnut Street municipal lot. The victim was on his way to wire $250 to his mother in Guatemala.

·      As the victim was parking the car, Espinal allegedly jumped in and shoved a gun in the victim’s chest. Yesner yelled at the victim in Spanish telling him to put his hands on the steering wheel.

·      Once the victim placed his hands on the wheel, a second suspect, whom police have not identified, jumped into the car. Espinal and the second man then allegedly frisked them victim and found the $250.

·      “He then felt the gun went to the back of his head and that the male behind him said to him in English ‘Don’t move, or I will shoot you in the head.’” the police report reads.

·      The suspects fled.

·      The victim later picked Espinal out of a police photo array.

·      Police then checked Espinal’s record and found a prior assault charge.

·      Police obtained a warrant and arrested him on Dec. 18.


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