Suspect In Brutal Concord Purse Snatching Apprehended, Police Say

CONCORD, CA – The suspect in a Concord purse snatching so brutal it left a 93-year-old woman hospitalized has been apprehended, Concord police said Thursday. Otto Halafihi, 29, of Oakland turned himself in Wednesday night at a police substation some 75 miles southeast of Concord, where he was taken into custody by Concord detectives, police Cpl. Summer Galer said in a news release.

Concord police released photos of the suspect and his vehicle earlier this week and it was through tips and leads from the community that detectives were able to identify Halafihi as the suspect, Galer said.

"These investigative leads lead our detectives to Halafihi's location in Patterson, CA," Galer said.

Halafihi is accused of robbing two women ages 93 and 64 of their purses at about 4 p.m. Friday, May 18 at Bank of America on Sun Valley Boulevard. Police allege Halafihi knocked the 93-year-old to the ground, causing her to suffer significant injuries.

Halafihi turned himself in at about 9 p.m. Wednesday and was brought back to Contra Costa County, where he is being charged on suspicion of robbery and elder abuse, the corporal said.

As of Thursday, Galer said, the elderly victim remained hospitalized for the injuries she suffered in the incident.

• ORIGINAL REPORT: Suspect Snatched Purse From, Injured Woman, 93: Concord Police

Thursday, Fremont police noted that Halafihil is also being held on a warrant dating to May 9, when the Lowe's Home Improvement store at Pacific Commons was robbed.

Police say that a man, now identified as Halafihi, approached the register area of the store where he lifted the front of his shirt and grabbed a black semi-automatic handgun from his waistband. The store employees backed away from the register.

After threatening to shoot the employees, the gunman picked up two items he had been carrying and left the store. Store employees and witnesses say he fled in a white, 4-door Sedan.

"We wish to thank the members of the Concord Police Department detective unit for reaching out so quickly regarding this violent and armed robbery suspect," said Fremont Police Lt. Michael Tegner. "This was a great effort by many to solve these cases so quickly and safely apprehend the suspect. Further, the use of community-based video surveillance cameras and automated license plate readers again provided invaluable evidence in the Fremont robbery."

Patch local editor Bea Karnes contributed to this report.

Photos courtesy Concord Police Department