Groton ― Four men are facing charges in connection with an incident last month in which police say they assaulted and robbed a man of his cell phone after he got in his car.

According to a police, officers arrived at 7:30 p.m. on Aug 23 at Pep Boys, a tire sale and automotive maintenance shop on the corner of Gold Star Highway and Colonel Ledyard Highway, after getting a report of three men “forcibly trying to take someone’s vehicle.”

A witness told police that he saw three men, dressed in black and wearing ski masks, standing around a vehicle in the parking lot, and two of the men assaulted a victim sitting in the driver’s seat, the report said.

The three men ran away after the witness said he was calling the police, according to the report. The witness then ran after the suspects, and they drove away in a white minivan.

According to the report, the victim told police that he left Pep Boys and got into his vehicle when “numerous people” attacked him before he could close the door. The victim did not know what they were hitting him with, but he did not have any visible marks and did not believe they had weapons. He refused medical treatment.

The victim told police he did not know the suspects. Another person told police that several individuals had attacked the victim for about 15 seconds before running away.

An individual approached police and said her husband may have dash camera footage, according to the report. The footage showed three people standing by a white minivan on Colonel Ledyard Highway, just north of Pep Boys.

According to the report, the victim’s iPhone 14, which has a value of $1,200, was stolen. The victim’s phone was tracked to the area of the Walmart at 150 Gold Star Highway. Police arrived, found the white minivan and arrested four people.

Hector J. Colon, 31, of 414 East Main St., Norwich, Daniel R. Lyford, 23, of Windham, Luis A. Rodriguez, 44, of Windham, and Brandon J. Sanchez, 28, of 551 Boston Post Road, Waterford, were each charged with conspiracy to commit second-degree larceny, second-degree breach of peace, second-degree larceny, conspiracy to commit second-degree robbery, third-degree assault, second-degree robbery, and conspiracy to commit third-degree assault.

All four posted $50,000 bonds and are slated to appear Friday in New London Superior Court.