Man charged with threatening to beat people like a drum in Downtown Crossing robberies

Boston Police report arresting a local man they say used a wooden drumstick as a weapon during robberies in the area of Tremont and Winter streets early this morning.

Police say officers responded to the area around 1:30 a.m. on reports that a man "had threatened to physically assault several people with a wooden drumstick while demanding they hand over their cellphone’s and cash."

Police say officers soon found Schuyler Redd, 35, a couple blocks away, at Avenue de Lafayette and Harrison Avenue Extension.

Upon officer approach, the suspect was observed dropping a wooden drumstick to the ground along with a cell phone before attempting to flee on foot.

Police say the officers managed to return stolen phones and cash to their owners. Redd was charged with armed robbery, police say.

Innocent, etc.