Editorials
Pepper spray was not enough to stop robber
About 10: 20 p.m. Thursday a woman walking alone in the 1500 block of Woolsey Street was approached by a man who was walking in front of her and abruptly turned around.
He faced her holding a silver semi-automatic pistol, and demanded she give him her purse.
Her response to the threat was to spray him with pepper spray, said Capt. Bobby Miller of the Berkeley Police Department.
The suspect grabbed her purse despite the spray, and then fled, and the victim screamed.
Neighbors heard her scream and responded, but they did not catch the suspect by that time joined by another man who had been walking behind the victim.
The suspect who stole her purse is described as an African-American male, 20 to 30 years old, 6 feet tall, with a slim build.
He wore a red sweatshirt with a hood and dark pants.
The second suspect is about the same age range, 5 feet, 8 inches tall, medium build, and he was wearing a black sweatshirt and light brown pants cut off at the knees.
