Woman attacked, but retains car and purse

A would-be car thief and purse snatcher got a lot more than he bargained for Tuesday.

A woman was sitting in a car in the parking lot of Motel 6, 179 W. 600 South, waiting for a friend to arrive, said Salt Lake police detective Dennis McGowan. Just before 1:30 p.m., a man approached the woman and told her to get out of the car or he would kill her, McGowan said. The man did not display a weapon.

Instead, the woman tried to fight off the attacker. The man pulled the woman halfway out of the car, jumped into the driver's seat and punched the woman in the face, McGowan said.

The robber then started the car and tried to drive off, but the woman wouldn't let go of the door, he said. The man drove forward and ran into a telephone pole, and then tried to go in reverse but hit the fence surrounding the motel property.

At that point, the woman reached in the car, pulled on the emergency brake and turned off the ignition, McGowan said.

The man got out of the car, and tried to take the woman's purse, striking her in the face several more times, he said.

But again, the victim did not give up. She chased after the man who had just stolen her purse and the two got into another scuffle, McGowan said. Ultimately, the man dropped the purse and ran.

The woman was treated at the scene for cuts and bruising to her face. The search continued Wednesday for a white man in his 40s with brown hair, sideburns, standing about 5-foot-7, and last seen wearing a thin tan coat, blue shirt, blue jeans and a baseball cap.

Anyone with information can call police at 799-INFO (4636). — Pat Reavy