Teen Arrested After Violent Palo Alto Purse Snatching
PALO ALTO (CBS SF) - A 17-year-old girl was arrested Saturday evening after allegedly stealing a woman's purse in downtown Palo Alto, police said Monday.
A Palo Alto police officer was on patrol in the 700 block of Waverley Street at about 9:50 p.m. Saturday when he noticed a woman running after another person and yelling "She stole my purse," police said.
The victim, who is in her 40s, had been walking down the sidewalk on Waverley when the suspect hit her in the back of the head, pushed her to the ground and yanked her purse away from her, police said.
The victim chased the suspect, then spotted the marked police car on Waverley and alerted the officer inside, according to police.
The officer chased and captured the suspect about a block away and returned the purse, with all of its contents, to the woman, police said.
Palo Alto Fire Department personnel treated the victim at the scene for minor scrapes to her face and knee.
The 17-year-old girl, an East Palo Alto resident, was arrested on suspicion of robbery and booked into Santa Clara County Juvenile Hall, police said.
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