A California mother had helped St. Paul Police identify a robbery suspect caught on surveillance footage knocking down an elderly woman and robbing her purse.
Isaiah Jamal Foster, 18, was already in custody on separate charges of carjacking when his mother called 911 to identify him as the suspect seen in video stills assaulting a Walgreens woman on Dec. 23.
“She does not trust police officers but wanted to do the right thing. She prayed about it, and turned her son in. she loves her son, but did not raise him like that,” the criminal complaint states.
The mother told the dispatcher that she recognized Foster’s coat in the footage; it was a gift from his grandmother and he was sporting it as he left home that same day.
“I’m 100 percent sure that is him,” the mom added.
Foster’s victim, an 81-year-old woman, was entering a store when he pulled her purse and yanked her to the ground. She was found unconscious suffering a concussion and brain bleed. She later fell at the hospital due to being dizzy and broke her pelvis.
“The actions of this young person caused significant trauma and injury to an elderly resident and spread fear throughout our community,” Ramsey County Attorney John Choi said.
“I want to thank investigators for their work on this case and the mother of the young offender for doing the right thing by turning her son into authorities.”
