Police: Man strikes woman after stealing items from her car

A woman sustained minor injuries after chasing a man she found allegedly stealing items from inside her vehicle in a Monroe parking lot on Thursday night.

Monroe Police administrative director Debbie Willis reports the woman was informed around 11 p.m. Thursday that someone was inside her car, which was parked in the 300 block of Butler Street.

When confronted, the man reportedly told the woman he thought it was his brother’s vehicle, and then began to remove items from his backpack he had taken from her car; some were placed on top of the vehicle and others on the ground.

The man then reportedly ran away, and the woman pursued him, thinking he may still have some of her belongings in his possession.

Willis reports the woman caught up to the man, grabbing his backpack, at which point the man allegedly “stiff armed” her, striking her in the mouth and neck area. The suspect then allegedly grabbed her cellphone and threw it on the ground, causing a crack in the corner of the screen.

One of the woman’s coworkers continued pursuing the suspect, but had to stop when the man crossed over railroad tracks ahead of an oncoming train, according to Willis.

Monroe Police have identified the suspect and are actively seeking his whereabouts in order to take him into custody.