By AKANE OTANI
A woman was allegedly punched in the face over the course of a robbery at a South Cayuga Street business Friday afternoon, Ithaca Police say.
At 3:18 p.m., Ithaca Police officers responded to reports of an assault on the 200 block of South Cayuga Street. Upon interviewing the victim at the scene, police determined that a robbery had occurred.
The victim told police officers that she had gotten into a verbal altercation with the suspect, who is a person she is familiar with, according to the Ithaca Police Department. During the altercation, the suspect allegedly grabbed the victim’s cell phone, punched the victim in the face and then smashed the cell phone on the ground.
The suspect then allegedly fled from the area on foot. Police were unable to locate the suspect as of Saturday.
The victim has signed paperwork indicating she wants to pursue prosecution of the suspect, according to the IPD. The suspect’s name has been withheld by police while they await court action.