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Police: Witnesses grab knife wielding carjacker at parking garage in downtown Phoenix

Posted at 12:22 PM, Oct 07, 2016
and last updated 2016-10-07 20:57:01-04

A woman was saved in downtown Phoenix by witnesses after a man tried to steal her car.

Court records show that on October 3, a woman trying to enter a parking garage was accosted by a man with a butcher knife who was trying to steal her car. Three witnesses took hold of the man until police arrived.

Police report that the woman was stopped at the gate of the garage near 4th and Van Buren Streets. She had her window rolled down as she was attempting to enter the gate code. She told police that she noticed 29-year-old Antonio Batalla Noriega walking toward her.

She told police she was leery of him and tried to roll up her window, but Noriega was able to reach inside with both hands. He reportedly had a large butcher knife in one hand and was trying to unlock the door with the other.

Police say three bystanders grabbed Noriega and pinned him to the ground until police arrived. 

Noriega is in custody on an immigration hold and has been charged with attempted armed robbery and aggravated assault.