UPDATE: 10:42pm - After further investigation, officers have
found the victim and suspect in this case are acquainted. The
suspect is currently being booked into the Ada County
Jail. The suspect's shirt and call phone have been
recovered by officers searching the park.
Arrested: Cameron Moon, 19, Boise
Charged: Robbery (F), Aggravated Battery (F)
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Boise, April 29, 2012, 9:20 p.m. - Boise Police are praising
witnesses to a robbery and battery this afternoon for alerting them
quickly to the crime and helping identify the suspect.
The victim was taken to a hospital where she's being treated for
a cut to her arm.
"We couldn't have asked for better cooperation from citizens,"
said Lt. Andy J. Johnson of the Boise Police Patrol division. "From
the citizens who witnessed the crime, to those who saw him run and
those in the park who saw what was happening and gave us room to do
our job, they helped officers out every step of the way. First
reporting then helping find and identify the suspect. We're very
appreciative."
What Happened: Witnessed called 911 just before 6:00 this
evening after they saw a young man on a bike steal a teenage girls
backpack, cutting her on the arm with a knife during the struggle.
The victim, who was on foot walking down the 1500 block of Dundee
Street, chased the suspect and grabbed his bike trying to get her
backpack back. At that time, the suspect punched the victim in the
face and rode away, turning north on S. Manitou Ave toward Manitou
Park. At that time, another citizen called 911 reporting that he'd
just seen the suspect throw his knife into a front yard.
Officers were beginning to arrive in the area and saw a man
matching the suspect's description drop a bike in a yard and jump
over a fence. Officers began a foot pursuit that went through
several yards. The suspect ended up in Manitou Park which was
crowded with families. Officers quickly caught up to the suspect
and he surrendered. Citizens who had witnessed the robbery, battery
and the chase helped officers identify the suspect. A Boise Police
K9, Rex also tracked the suspect's scent from the park back to
Dundee where the robbery and battery occurred.
Missing Evidence: Officers say witnesses report seeing the
suspect take off his shirt and throw his cell phone while trying to
run from officers. However, the items have not yet been located.
It's believed the items were discarded between the tennis courts
and the canal in Manitou Park. If anyone picked up the items,
they're urged to contact non-emergency dispatch at 377-6790.
The suspect is being questioned by detectives at this
time.
More information will be released when available.