Two arrested for attempted robbery, kidnapping after community assists Salinas police

Salinas police say community involvement led to the arrests of two people charged with attempted robbery, kidnapping and conspiracy.

The incident happened in the Food 4 Less parking lot on North Sanborn Road at around 11:08 a.m. on Wednesday. A 64-year-old woman was loading items into her car’s trunk with her purse strapped over her shoulder when a 17-year-old allegedly came up behind her, grabbed her purse and tried to wrestle it away from her. The victim was knocked to the ground while police said the suspect still tried to pull the purse away.

The victim had fallen on top of her purse, so police said that, while the suspect tried to rip it away, she was dragged about 30 feet on the pavement. Police said she suffered significant bruises and abrasions as a result. Officers said the suspect ran to a vehicle driven by another suspect and both left.

Two witnesses called the police and provided information that police said helped them find the suspects. They said a 17-year-old tried to rob the woman and 18-year-old Cesar Efrain Lopez drove the vehicle.

Both were arrested a short time later. The 17-year-old was taken to Juvenile Hall and Lopez was booked into the Monterey County Jail.