Teen charged with attempted theft of iPhone near Schenectady High School

PHOTOGRAPHER: Steven Cook

One teenager attempted to take another teen’s iPhone this morning near Schenectady High School, but the victim fought back and the suspect was later arrested, authorities said.

The incident happened just before 8:30 this morning at Phoenix Avenue and The Plaza where police were sent to investigate a report of a 16-year-old high school student being robbed.

Officers arrived and found the student, who told police another student tried to take the phone from him.

The attacker punched the victim, but the victim fought back and put the attacker in a headlock, according to papers filed in court. The two fell to the ground.

A second person came over and the attacker told that person to take the victim’s iPhone. The victim, though, yelled for help and the two soon fled.

Police soon caught up with them near the Getty station on Union Street.

Charged was 16-year-old Jalen A. McKain, of Schenectady. McKain faces one count of second-degree attempted robbery.

One other person was arrested on unrelated charges and another was released, police said.

The victim was uninjured.