D.C. police said Thursday they arrested and charged an 18-year-old man in connection to 18 robberies, some at gunpoint, on the Metropolitan Branch Trail in Northeast.

Authorities said they took Jalique Wiseman of Northeast into custody on armed robbery charges last week after police linked him to a string of violent thefts on the bike trail that started in early October.

Fifth District Cmdr. Sylvan Altieri said officers were patrolling the trail Tuesday afternoon, when a robbery was reported near Chancellor’s Row and then another in the 700 block of Edgewood Street NE minutes later.

Investigators determined the suspects in the back-to-back robberies matched the description provided about them linked to more than a dozen thefts along the trail, police said.

Officers then tracked down and arrested Mr. Wiseman in connection to the robberies.

Police said Mr. Wiseman and an accomplice mainly stole trail-goers’ iPhones in the stick-ups. Authorities also said the majority of the muggings took place at night.

“People use the trail at night and any city, no matter where you live, at nighttime when you’re isolated, you can become a target,” Cmdr. Altieri said.

The commander said Mr. Wiseman’s accomplice, who wasn’t identified, is still at large.

Police said they obtained a search warrant for a home that they believe is connected to the robbery spree.

• Matt Delaney can be reached at mdelaney@washingtontimes.com.