Three people, who allegedly hurt an elderly woman while trying to steal her purse at a CVS Pharmacy in Beaumont, have now been indicted foraggravated assault.
This week, a Jefferson County grand jury indicted Houstonians James Collins, 25; and Jasmine Stevens, 21, along with Lanique Malone, 18 of Beaumont. The three people originally were arrested on July 6 for an aggravated robbery that occurred at the CVS located at 2950 Dowlen Rd.
Now, they each could face up to 99 years or life in prison.
On July 6, police received a call shortly after 1:40 p.m. to report a robbery in progress. Police previously said that a 78-year-old woman had been strong-arm robbed by a man, who pushed her to the ground and stole her purse, before running away and getting into a newer model black Chrysler 200.
New information from court documents released with the indictment said the woman was approached by a man who offered to assist her in locating a product. The woman told officers that her purse was on the front portion of her shopping cart, and the cart was between her and the man.
“The victim reported that the suspect pushed the shopping cart into her, grabbed her purse, and then ran away,” Beaumont police Ofc. Heather Wilson said in the documents. “The victim immediately began to chase after the suspect and fell in the parking lot, which resulted in her sustaining visible, serious bodily injury.”
Witnesses gave officers information about the suspect and vehicle information. The documents revealed that multiple people saw the suspect run through the parking lot, north on Dowlen Road and across the street towards Alter’s Jewelry Store while holding the woman’s purse. He was then seen getting into a black Chrysler car, which drove northbound on Dowlen Road, the documents said.
Beaumont police said previously that officers located the vehicle with all three suspects on Highway 90 just west of Major Drive. All three of the vehicle’s occupants were arrested.
The affidavit says that a witness followed the car and a partial license plate was broadcasted to officers in the area, including one that located the car on Interstate 10 southbound and saw it take the exit for Highway 90. Wilson said that officer saw the car commit traffic violations and stopped it in the 11000 block of Highway 90 in Beaumont.
The woman’s property was in the car and all three people were arrested for aggravated robbery. A police investigation and video surveillance footage gave police enough evidence to charge the three individuals.
“Collins pushed the victim with the shopping cart and stole the purse, Malone acted as the ‘look out’ while standing at the front of the store during the incident, and Stevens was the ‘getaway driver’ for Collins and Malone,” Wilson said. “Due to Collins, Malone and Stevens all actively participating in the course of committing a theft, with intent to obtain property from the victim, intentionally, knowingly, recklessly caused bodily injury to another person 65 years of age or older, they were placed under arrest for Aggravated Robbery.”
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
meagan.ellsworth@beaumontenterprise.com
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