Harajly was robbed and taken inside an abandoned Detroit home at gunpoint, while on the job.

DETROIT — Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy has charged 24-year-old Joshua Alphonso Dickey of Detroit in connection with the robbery of Youssef Harajly, a former deliveryman for Pizza Place.

The Arab American News broke the story last week about Harajly being robbed at gunpoint and trapped inside an abandoned Detroit home when he was delivering pizza on the evening of Saturday, September 12 on the 7200 block of Stahelin.

In an exclusive interview, Harajly recalled the horrifying incident in which Alphonso and four other men allegedly forced him into the home at gunpoint, stripped him and took his money, identification and personal items and stole his car.

During the incident, Harajly was forced into a closet barricaded with a chair. He was able to break out after he heard the men take off in his car. He ran from the home and sought help at a nearby liquor store.

As a result of an investigation by the Commercial Auto Theft Carjacking Unit, Dickey was arrested on September 21 at 7:30 p.m. He’s been charged on five counts; carjacking, armed robbery, unlawful imprisonment, motor vehicle-unlawful driving away and stolen property-R&C motor vehicle. 

Detectives have asked Harajly to identify other men they believe may be involved in the robbery. According to the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office, two other suspects will possibly face charges as well.

Worthy said Dickey’s actions are “inexcusable.”

“It is always particularly disturbing when every day people are simply living their lives, going about their business and they become victims of violent crime,” she said in a statement.

The probable cause conference for Dickey is scheduled for October 1 at 8:30 a.m., while the preliminary examination is scheduled for October 8 at 9 a.m. before Judge Kenneth King. He received a $250,000 cash/surety bond.

The incident occurred in the Warrendale area of the city. Detectives are looking to see if the alleged suspects involved in the robberies are linked to a string of similar robberies that occurred in the neighborhood in recent months.