LYNN – A group of Lynn and area men are behind bars following a string of violent robberies in the city.Police say Joshua James Cunningham, 26, of 111 Marianna St., Lynn, was arrested Sunday, charged with three counts of armed and masked robbery in the alleged holdup of the Essex Street Market on Dec. 14.Three other suspects involved in an unrelated, alleged pistol-whipping and robbery on High Street Sunday night were also taken off the streets: Curtis D. Stubbs, 19, of 66 Story Ave., Beverly, charged with armed robbery, disorderly conduct and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, gun; Star Allen Johnson, 19, of 2 Kingsley Terrace #3, Lynn, charged with armed robbery and violation of a city knife ordinance and Joshua Q. Imadiyi, 18, of 31 Southville Court, Nashau, N.H., charged with armed robbery and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, shod foot.All four suspects were arraigned Monday at Lynn District Court by Judge James Lamothe and have been ordered held without bail pending dangerousness hearings scheduled for Dec. 28.According to court documents, Cunningham walked into the Essex Street Market, located at 99 Essex St., where he allegedly placed a plastic bag on the counter and gestured for the clerk to place money into it. Police say Cunningham, who was wearing a black ski mask and armed with two kitchen knives, grabbed a stack of $1 bills, totaling upwards of $80 from the register.After a struggle to open the front door, which was being held by the clerk, Cunningham ripped it open and ran from the store while the clerk gave chase. A witness who was in the store at the time later told police that Cunningham allegedly placed a knife against her stomach and said, “Put your money and (expletive) down on the counter or I?m going to stab you.”Numerous tips and surveillance video eventually led police to a man?s apartment who Cunningham was previously in jail with and visited after the alleged robbery. That person then gave police a play-by-play of Cunningham?s alleged intentions to rob the market, which led to his capture.In regards to the pistol-whipping incident, police say a 34-year-old Lynn man, who was profusely bleeding from a wound over his left eye, flagged down a cruiser Sunday, saying he had been robbed of $40 by a group of black males dressed all in black clothing, who then ran down High Street toward Union Street.Police say the victim had blood on the front of his jacket as he relayed the details of the robbery. Soon after, police caught up with three suspects in a Walgreen?s parking lot on Union Street, who were then identified by the victim and arrested.Imadiyi was said to have allegedly kicked the victim repeatedly as he fell to the pavement in pain from being hit with the gun by Stubbs. Johnson allegedly grabbed the victim?s wallet as he tried to cover himself on the ground.The victim was treated for his wound at the scene.Police say they are investigating whether other recent robberies are connected to the four suspects.