CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Charleston Police have arrested two suspects they believe are part of a group of people that has been attacking and robbing people downtown.

"A group of people who are hanging out in the transit mall have taken it upon themselves to start robbing people," said Sgt. Steve Cooper, chief detective for the Charleston Police Department.

But Cooper said the men do not appear to be members of an organized gang. "It is a group of individuals," Cooper said. "We are not saying it's gang-related."

The men have been reported jumping people as they walk downtown, stealing their cell phones or wallets. Police have been examining links among three robberies that have occurred over the past few weeks, Cooper said Thursday.

Todd Woodson, 24, was charged Monday with first-degree robbery in connection with the May 3 attack of Kenneth Napier, 63, of Charleston.

Napier told police he and a female companion encountered three men and a woman near Taylor Books at about 2:35 p.m. on Capitol Street. The two men threw Napier to the ground and proceeded to continually kick him in the stomach before stealing his wallet.

Earlier, police arrested one of the men, George Hatcher, 23, of Frame Street. They are still searching for the woman Napier identified as, "Renee."

Woodson is in South Central Regional Jail under a $50,000 bond.

A 16-year-old male has been charged with first-degree robbery in connection with the May 22 attack of Adam Melton, 33.

Melton was walking along Dickinson Street near the main Charleston post office at about 10 p.m. when four young men approached him from behind. The men robbed Melton at knifepoint, knocked him to the ground and fled on foot. He sustained minor injuries.

Cooper said they are searching for the other three men by following leads, and they believe they are close to making arrests.

Police also believe the May 22 attack of Robert "Jeff" Moore, 53, who remains in a coma at Charleston Area Medical Center, can also be attributed to the group. Moore was attacked at about 11:30 p.m. on Fife Street, a pedestrian thoroughfare between Summers and Capitol streets. Police said Moore was unconscious and lying in a pool of blood when they arrived at the scene.

"We are working around the clock on Mr. Moore's case," Cooper said. "Due to the proximity to the other attacks, [a connection] is something we are looking at very carefully."

Police are beefing up security downtown because of the increase in violent attacks. In the meantime, Cooper said he recommends not walking on the streets alone and reporting any robberies to police.

Reach Travis Crum at travis.c...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-5100.