Teen Charged With Punching, Robbing Elderly Woman On Upper West Side

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — An 18-year-old man is facing charges in connection with a violent robbery on the Upper West Side that sent a 72-year-old woman to the hospital, police told Patch.

Souleymane Diaby was arrested Saturday and has been charged with second-degree robbery and second-degree assault, police said. Diaby is accused of approaching a 72-year-old woman Thursday on Broadway near West 108th Street and attempting to snatch her purse, police said.

The when woman resisted, Diaby allegedy puncher her in the face several times, police told Patch. Diaby was able to wrestle the purse from the woman and fled the scene on West 107th Street, police said. The purse contained $250, an iPhone and credit cards, police said.

The woman suffered lacerations to her mouth and lips and bruising to her face, police said. She was treated for her injuries at St. Luke's Hospital and release, police told Patch.

Diaby is currently being held on $15,000 cash bail and is due in court on Feb. 2, according to court records.

Photo by NYPD