Man Charged In Assault, Robbery Of Newton Student To Undergo Mental Evaluation
NEWTON (CBS) -- The man charged in connection with the assault and robbery of a 12-year-old boy last week was ordered to undergo a 20-day mental evaluation Monday.
Carlos Cruz-Aguilar, 24, of Waltham, was sent to Bridgewater State Hospital for evaluation after a doctor testified at a dangerousness hearing Monday afternoon that he showed signs of mental illness.
"It is my impression from my observations of him, as well as from reading prior materials that there is an important reason to consider that he may be psychotic," said psychologist Dr. Rosemary Klein in Newton District Court.
Cruz-Aguilar was arrested Thursday evening and arraigned on a charge of armed robbery Friday. He was held without bail pending Monday's hearing.
Police said he's the man who robbed an F.A. Day Middle School student while he walked to his bus stop on Lexington Street on Monday, March 21.
The student said a man armed with a large knife came up behind him and demanded his cell phone. After a struggle, the boy dropped his phone, and the man grabbed it and ran off.
The boy was later treated for minor injuries at Boston Children's Hospital.
Cruz-Aguilar was arrested after someone spotted a man fitting the attacker's description at the Waltham Common Thursday evening. Earlier in the day, police had released this sketch and surveillance image:
The boy's phone was found after the attack at a restaurant on Moody Street in Waltham, where police said Cruz-Aguilar was seen eight minutes after the boy was assaulted.
Police said they believe he was trying to unlock the phone, and left it when he realized he couldn't. A customer turned the phone in to police.
On April 19, Cruz-Aguilar is scheduled to return to court.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Carl Stevens reports
