Palo Alto police arrest San Jose man accused of kicking, trying to rob woman

Officers in Palo Alto have arrested a San Jose man in connection with an attempted robbery in February, during which a woman was knocked to the ground and kicked on a residential street, police said.

The case happened on Feb. 3 at about 8:25 a.m. in the 700 block of East Meadow Drive, according to the Palo Alto Police Department.

Investigators said a woman in her 40s was walking in the area when a man approached from behind, forced her to the ground and demanded money. The suspect kicked the woman several times before fleeing on foot when she said she had no money and yelled for help.

The woman returned home and later called the police. She reported pain and bruising from the assault and sought medical treatment on her own, the department said in a statement Tuesday.

Palo Alto officers and detectives, with help from the Santa Clara County Probation Department, identified the suspect as 26-year-old John Curiel of San Jose.

On Friday, officers with the Mountain View Police Department found and detained Curiel in Mountain View. Palo Alto detectives later arrested him.

Curiel was booked into the Santa Clara County Main Jail, police said.

Authorities asked anyone with information about the case to contact Palo Alto police dispatch at (650) 329-2413 or submit anonymous tips through the department’s tip line or mobile app.

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