On Saturday, April 24, 2010, at approximately 12:55am, Boston Police Officers assigned out of Area A-1 (Downtown), were traveling in the area of Kneeland Street when they observed an individual running down the street. The officers also noticed this person to be wearing a dark colored hooded sweatshirt and carrying a backpack.
Based on the time and his suspicious activity, the officers continued to monitor him. The individual observed the police presence and continued to reverse his direction in order to avoid them.
The alert officers called dispatch and inquired as to any recent incidents in their general area. They were informed that dispatch had just received a phone call for a report of an attempted purse snatching involving a male suspect fitting the description of the individual they were monitoring.
Officers approached the suspect and asked what he was doing. He replied, “I just like to run here and there.” At this time the suspect was detained pending an identification from the witness.
Other BPD officers located the female victim in the area of Washington Street where she explained that a black male had just attempted to steal her purse. She went on to state that she was walking with a friend on Washington Street to her car when they were approached by a black male. The unknown male then attempted to grab the female’s purse but was unable to get hold of it. He then pushed her to the ground forcing her to strike her head on the pavement. She stated the male suspect then fled on foot towards Kneeland Street.
The female victim declined medical treatment and was transported to Kneeland Street where she positively identified the suspect as the same person who attempted to steal her purse and pushed her to the ground.
Officers arrested Vladimir Cadet, 32, of Brockton on the charges of Unarmed Robbery & Assault & Battery by Means of a Dangerous Weapon (pavement).