This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
An alleged knife-wielding purse snatcher turned foiled carjacker was being held in Salt Lake County Jail without bail on Thursday.
Salt Lake City police said that the 36-year-old suspect attacked a woman who was sitting on the sidewalk near a homeless shelter at 211 S. Rio Grande about 11 p.m. Wednesday. He grabbed the woman's purse, and when she resisted, he punched her, witnesses said.
He then ran to a nearby car, jumped into the passenger's seat and threatened the driver with his knife. However, the motorist refused demands to drive away from the scene, and the frustrated suspect fled on foot.
A short time later, police located and arrested the suspect after a brief foot chase.
The man was booked on suspicion of first-degree felony aggravated robbery, second-degree robbery and misdemeanor counts of fleeing police and providing false information about his identity.
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