Two 18-year-old men were arrested for allegedly trying to rob a purse from a woman they assaulted in Santee and then fleeing in a stolen car, according to the San Diego Sheriff's Department.
The assault and attempted robbery of a 65-year-old woman at 214 Town Center Parkway was reported at 6:38 p.m. Friday, San Diego sheriff's Sgt. Daniel Morsch said.
According to Morsch, the two teens, Cosmin Badiu and Grant Shaffer, drove up to the woman and one of the teens allegedly got out of the car and tried to grab her purse, knocking her to the ground and injuring her in the process.
The woman fought off her attacker and the teen jumped back into the car and Badiu and Shaffer then allegedly fled the scene, Morsch said.
Their car was later located by deputies parked at a nearby Costco store.
Deputies then confronted the teens outside the car. One of the young men tried to run away but was arrested on Riverview Parkway. The car they were allegedly driving was reported stolen in Arizona, according to Morsch.
According to San Diego County jail records, Badiu and Shaffer were booked on a variety of charges including suspicion of robbery, vehicle theft, possession of stolen property, harm to an elder adult and conspiracy to commit a crime. Badiu also faces additional booking charges of suspicion of possessing brass knuckles and obstruction of a police officer. No arraignment date has been set so far.
The unidentified woman was treated at the scene and transported to a hospital for treatment of her injuries.
