Walnut Creek police say they have a Fairfield youth in custody after he allegedly punched and kicked a woman in an attempt to get her cell phone.
The juvenile, unnamed due to his age, has been booked on an attempted robbery charge, police said.
In a release issued by police Sgt. Mike Sugrue, police said the incident started at at approximately 9:23 p.m. Wednesday when a woman walking through the breeze way at Broadway Plaza was confronted by a black male wearing a bright orange jacket, white t-shirt and blue jeans.
The youth, whose exact age was not given, allegedly walked up from behind the victim and attempted to grab her cell phone from her hand. When the woman resisted the suspect kicked and hit the victim and pulled her to the ground as he continued to grab at her phone, according to police. The victim then began screaming, which alerted other shoppers and prompted the suspect to run away.
Walnut Creek police were summoned and began their search for the suspect, who was last seen running south through Broadway Plaza towards Newell Avenue. Several minutes later, police units contacted a possible suspect on Newell Avenue across from Broadway Plaza and this person was subsequently identified by the victim and other witnesses. He was taken to Juvenile Hall in Martinez and booked on the attempted robbery charge, according to police.
An orange jacket believed to have been worn by the suspect was later found near Main/Broadway Plaza, police said.
Officers said the victim suffered a minor scrape to her elbow during the robbery. Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Walnut Creek Police Department at (925) 943-5844.
