Elderly woman pushed down and robbed in busy Kennewick shopping center
An elderly woman was knocked down and robbed on Friday afternoon in a shopping plaza off Highway 395 in Kennewick.
The robbery led to an extensive neighborhood search by Kennewick police and an arrest of a suspect near Bruneau Place.
The woman was reportedly attacked near the REI store in Highlands Center, at Ely Street and Clearwater Avenue about 2 p.m. by a man who appeared to be living on the streets, according to dispatch reports.
It was not immediately known if the woman was hurt or what was stolen.
Shortly after police arrived, they spotted Vincent Gronross, 35, of Richland, who matched the description of the suspect. He ran and hid, according to a release from Kennewick police.
Kennewick police K9 Ivan helped officers track Gronross to a backyard of a nearby home on Bruneau Place. He was arrested about 2:30 p.m.
Gronross was booked into the Benton County jail on suspicion of robbery, obstruction, resisting arrest, trespassing and outstanding warrants.
Gronross was wanted in four outstanding Benton County Superior Court cases that include charges of burglary and trafficking in stolen property, after he failed to show up for an August hearing, according to court records. The cases date back to 2019.
This story was originally published October 6, 2023 at 3:43 PM.