Pizza delivery teen attacked on Home Services

Dec

Pizza delivery teen attacked

posted by admin in Air Duct Cleaning

Matt Gelderloos says he was attacked while on the job in Muskegon County.

It was supposed to be the last delivery of the night Tuesday for the 18-year-old Fruitport resident. He had an order of wings for a house on Reynolds Road in Muskegon Heights - a neighborhood just outside the boundary lines for Jo Jo’s Pizza.

Instead of a tip, he said was attacked and received cuts, bruises and stitches.

“As I turned to look at him, the guy that was talking to me tackled me from behind onto the curb, and he just started hitting me. And he pulls out my wallet and tosses it to the other kidâ€¦and they’re just asking where all the rest of the money is,” Gelderloos told 24 Hour News 8.

He said the five suspects, three of whom attacked him, stole $70, his cell phone and his father’s pickup truck.

Gelderloos said he then ran to a nearby convenience store to get help but was turned away. He then found a police officer that helped him.

Gelderloos and a 24 Hour News 8 crew went back to Five Star Market Wednesday looking for answers.

“I asked you to just call the copsâ€¦you just told me to leave, you didn’t say anythingâ€¦you just told me to leave,” Gelderloos confronted one of the clerks behind the counter.

Employees at Five Star Market said nearby neighborhoods can be rough, and that they were trying to protect themselves.

Gelderloos said his injuries pale compared to knowing somebody wouldn’t give him help when he needed it the most.

“He said he made a little mistake. That’s not a little mistake - he kicked me out,” Gelderloos told 24 Hour News 8.

Gelderloos says he has learned some tough lessons after two weeks on the job.

“I’m scared going to that area, but, you know, I’ve lived in this area, my family’s lived in this area, so I’m just going to do my job.”

Police believe the attack on Gelderloos was a setup. Those at Jo Jo’s say the suspects called back five times wanting to know when their order would arrive.

Muskegon Heights police say the investigation is ongoing and that Gelderloos did not get a good look at any of the suspects.

If you know anything about the attack you are asked to call police or Silent Observer.