A Texas woman nearly lost her life after she was run over by thieves who attempted to snatch her purse containing $75,000 in cash.
Police say the woman and her husband run a check cashing business located in the 23000 block of Highway 290. The woman was followed from a Houston bank by three men after she withdrew $75,000 just after 9 a.m. Friday.
“These criminals out there, they are watching and they are looking for easy targets,” Harris County Precinct 4 Constable Mark Herman told KPRC.
The wild surveillance video shows the woman arriving to a Valero gas station she co-owns with her husband. Seconds later a robber hopped out of a black SUV and attempted to snatch her purse, but she held on to the purse for dear life.
As the woman fought with the robber, her husband saw the attempted robbery and dashed outside to help her. Another thug approached and joined the melee as all three rolled around on the ground trying to gain control of the purse.
One thug dragged the woman along the asphalt while another robber fought with her husband. Eventually the SUV backed over the woman and dragged her but she still refused to release her grip on the purse.
A deputy constable who witnessed the incident attempted to help the couple fight off the suspects.
More deputies soon arrived and arrested one of the suspects, David Mitchell, 31, after a brief chase. He was charged with aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon (the SUV).
Police identified the second suspect as Travonn Johnson, 27. A third suspect is still at large.
The woman was transported to a hospital where she is listed in critical condition.
Her husband suffered minor injuries. Police did not say whether the thieves made off with the purse.
