LOWER EAST SIDE — A 24-year-old woman was injured after a thief pushed her from behind and steal her iPhone over the weekend, police said.
The victim bruised her knee after Cristian Monge, 19, grabbed her waist and shoved her onto the ground on Aug. 22 at 10:40 p.m. at the corner of Orchard and Rivington streets, police said.
Monge then ripped the phone out of the woman’s hand, and began to flee, while the victim and a witness chased after him. Bystanders stepped in and caught Monge, holding onto him until the police arrived, according to the NYPD.
When police searched the suspect, they found two Xanax pills and no prescription for them, according to a criminal complaint from the Manhattan District Attorney’s office.
Monge was charged with robbery, grand larceny and criminal possession of a controlled substance, according to the complaint. His bail was set at $5,000 bond or $2,500 cash. He is due back in court on Aug. 28.
His attorney did not immediately return a request for comment.
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