This pair beat and robbed a woman in Richland after she saw them doing ‘suspicious acts’, say police

Police say a man and woman beat up and robbed a stranger riding her bicycle Tuesday night at Columbia Point Marina.

Whitney Abbott, 18, and Sergio Rodriguez-Topete, 26, both of Pasco, choked and punched the woman at the southeast end of the park, near the bridge about 9:45 p.m. Tuesday, Richland police said.

The woman allegedly saw Abbott and Rodriguez-Topete “involved in suspicious acts,” police said.

After beating her up, the pair took some of her things and then drove away in a Geo Metro.

Officials said Richland and Pasco officers arrested them early Wednesday after receiving a tip through Facebook.

Abbott and Rodriguez-Topete were booked into the Benton County jail on suspicion of first-degree theft.

This story was originally published August 1, 2018 at 12:03 PM.