PEORIA, AZ -- Officers arrested one of three suspects after a woman had her purse snatched from her car on Monday.
Eric Esquivel-Cadena, 18, was arrested outside a residence in the 12200 block of W. 128th Drive after he allegedly opened the door of the victims’ car and took her purse from the passenger seat, police said.
Officers responded to the call around 3 p.m. and were flagged down by the woman in the area of 129th Avenue and Cactus Road.
According to authorities, the victim told police that she had stopped her vehicle at a stop sign when four Hispanic males surrounded her car on each side.
The victim said that Cadena knocked on her windshield and asked her “Why don’t you holler at me girl?” according to officials.
Once the victim reportedly told Cadena that she had a boyfriend, Cadena replied 'Oh it’s like that' and moved to her drivers’ side door.
According to authorities, the victim said that Cadena opened her door, grabbed her purse from the passenger seat, and fled the scene along with the three other suspects.
When police contacted the victim, she gave them a description of Cadena and his clothes.
Authorities reportedly found Cadena about a block away from where the incident occurred and he was identified by the victim.
After officers performed a search on Cadena, the victim identified several items from her purse that was on his person including hair ties and tubes of mascara. More items belonging to the victim were found outside of a house a few blocks away, according to authorities.
When asked why she didn’t drive away when the males surrounded her vehicle, the victim apparently told police she was afraid that she would run over one of the suspects.
The victim also reportedly commented that she feared Cadena might have had a gun since he had a hand in his jacket pocket during the incident.
Cadena is currently in police custody and faces charges of felony aggravated robbery.
