Originally published as a Salinas Police Department Facebook post:
“Yesterday afternoon at about 1:41 pm, officers responded to a robbery which had taken place in the parking lot in the 1500 block of N. Sanborn Rd.
Two women were walking along the parking lot north of Food 4 Less. As they were walking, they heard someone running up behind them. Manuel Gonzalez (34) ran up to one of them who was carrying a purse hanging from her shoulder, he grabbed the purse and ripped it away causing the strap to break.
Gonzalez fled on foot and ran through the Food 4 Less parking lot. The victims called a family member who was nearby, and he started chasing the suspect. At the same time, they called police and provided information on the suspect’s description and direction of travel.
Officers caught Gonzalez in the 1400 block of Buckhorn Dr. and detained him. He was identified as the suspect and arrested. Officers found the stolen purse Gonzalez has discarded and were able to return it to the owner.
Gonzalez was transported to county jail charged with robbery.”
