Victims Fight Back and Catch Robbers

MODESTO, CA--Two men were arrested yesterday after trying to steal a purse from a female and colliding into a vehicle driven by a man who used his vehicle to prevent the suspects from escaping.

The incident began just before 6:00 pm yesterday in the parking lot of Washington Mutual Bank on Tully Road.  The 28-year-old female was leaving the bank and walking to her car in the parking lot.  A blue Pontiac was parked next to her car, occupied by two men, one of whom was later identified as the driver, Rakim Thompson, 19-years-old of Modesto.  Two other men were standing between the blue Pontiac and the female's car.  One of those men was later identified as 18-year-old Timothy Moreland of Modesto.

The female got into her car and placed her purse on the passenger seat.  She rolled down her windows and Moreland reached in through her passenger side window and grabbed her purse.  The female grabbed her purse and pulled it from Moreland, causing the purse strap to break off in his hand.  Moreland then jumped into the Pontiac and Thompson began to drive away.

A 42-year-old Modesto man was driving by and witnessed the incident.  He used his vehicle to block the path of the Pontiac as it began to drive away. Thompson collided with the front driver side of the man's vehicle.  The witness stepped on the gas to try keep the Pontiac from leaving.  Thompson was able to maneuver around the man's vehicle and drove away.

The witness followed Thompson for a few blocks until Thompson suddenly ran out of gas.  As the vehicle came to a stop, Moreland fled on foot.  Officers were in the area and captured Moreland on McHenry Avenue.  Officers also arrived at Thompson's vehicle and detained him as well.  The witness, who had followed Thompson, saw the strap from the victim's purse thrown out the window as they were fleeing.  Officers recovered the strap and Moreland was positively identified by the victim as the man who tried to steal her purse.

Moreland was arrested for robbery and a warrant out of juvenile hall. Thompson was issued a citation for hit and run.  The other two males in the vehicle were not arrested.  Moreland's Booking photo is attached.

For information about this news release contact Sergeant Craig Gundlach at (209) 652-3184.

Sergeant Craig Gundlach
Modesto Police Department
Media Relations
(209) 572-9579
(209) 652-3184

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