Biting Burglar arrested
On Saturday, March 3, 2013, a little past midnight, a woman in her 60’s called the Palo Alto Police Department to report that she had just been the victim of a robbery within the past five minutes. A man had grabbed money out of her hand, bit her when she tried to hold onto the money, and then fled.
Thomas Joseph Lewis of Vallejo was arrested in East Palo Alto
The Palo Alto Fire Department responded to the woman’s injury and treated her at the scene. She had incurred a small abrasion.
Responding officers identified the suspect as 38 year old Thomas Joseph Lewis of Vallejo. “Officers also identified a vehicle that he may be driving,” said Detective Sergeant Brian Philip. Surrounding law enforcement agencies were notified of the suspect and car’s descriptions.
About two hours later, around 2 a.m., an officer from the East Palo Alto Police Department saw Lewis walking in East Palo Alto at University Avenue and Donohoe Street. Lewis was detained and the PAPD took custody of him.
Lewis was charged for one count of robbery (a felony), said Det. Philip, and was booked at the Santa Clara Country Main Jail.
Lewis was found near this intersection
There have been a string of street robberies downtown in recent weeks, but investigation by the PAPD has led to the conclusion that Lewis is not involved in any of these. The most recent incident happened only 30 minutes after this incident in the Civic Center parking garage when Lewis was nowhere near that area.
Anyone with information about any of our robberies can contact our 24-hour dispatch center at 650-329-2413. Anonymous tips can be e-mailed to paloalto@tipnow.org or sent via text message or voice mail to 650-383-8984.
examiner.com: String of robberies occur in Palo Alto over the weekend
