Strong-arm robbery charges have been filed against a purse snatcher who allegedly pushed a woman to the ground on the Mag Mile before being chased down and apprehended by two Good Samaritans, police said.
Richard D. Mendoza, 31, of the 1600 block of North Talman Avenue was charged this afternoon with strong-arm robbery and battery. Police said he is on parole and was wearing an electronic ankle bracelet at the time of the robbery.
The incident happened at about 8:19 a.m. when a 44-year-old woman was walking on the side walk eastbound on Erie Street when the purse snatcher approached her from behind, said Chicago Police News Affairs Officer Robert Perez.
The man, later identified as Mendoza, began choking her and grabbing her purse as the woman began struggling against him, Perez said. As he struggled for the woman's purse he knocked her to the ground, Perez said.
As they continued struggling, Mendoza kicked her several times and took the purse, Perez said.
As the incident was ending, two men who witnessed the attack ran after Mendoza as police were being called, Perez said.
He ran eastbound on Erie Street and threw the purse into a nearby alley, Perez said.
The men then saw Mendoza get into a taxi at the intersection of Michigan Avenue and Erie Street, police said.
As one of the Good Samaritans prevented the taxi from moving, the other man flagged down a passing police car that was responding to the robbery.
Mendoza was taken out of the taxi cab and brought back to where the incident happened and he was identified as the attacker. The woman's purse was retrieved, Perez said.
The woman was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital where her condition had stabilized, Perez said. The woman sustained bruising and swelling to her face and back of her head, Perez said.
Mendoza has 14 prior arrests and four prior convictions: one for armed robbery, one for strong-arm robbery and two residential burglaries, police said.
csadovi@tribune.com
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