Police didn’t have to look far to find Isaiah Jamal Foster, 18, after his mother called them saying that he is the man caught on video trying to snatch a purse from an 81-year-old woman in St. Paul.
That’s because Foster was already in jail after carjacking a woman in her own garage in Crocus Hill while her child was in the car, authorities say. Foster was joined by two accomplices, ages 14 and 17 who threatened the woman with a gun, taking her vehicle while her 3-year-old was still inside, earlier this week. Fortunately, the mother was able to retrieve her kid from the back seat as the criminals (who were spotted and arrested later that day) pulled away.
The vehicle the trio used to perpetrate this carjacking was also stolen in an incident that left its Minneapolis owner injured.
Foster has been in jail since Tuesday, facing charges related to the carjacking. He now also faces first-degree aggravated attempted robbery and third-degree assault resulting in substantial bodily harm. These new charges were brought after his mom saw a widely circulated video of Foster pulling an old lady to the ground trying to take her purse as she shopped the day before Christmas Eve.
St. Paul police are asking for help in identifying this would-be purse-snatcher. He attempted to rip a purse out of the arms of an 81-year-old woman walking into a Walgreens on the 1100 block of Larpenteur Avenue West on Dec. 23. pic.twitter.com/iwNwo4X5oy
— Alpha News (@AlphaNewsMN) December 30, 2021
According to the criminal complaint against Foster, his mother “does not trust police officers, but wanted to do the right thing. She prayed about it, and turned her son in. She loves her son, but did not raise him like that.”
While the elderly woman Foster tried to rob, Judy Stuthman, was able to retain her purse, she unfortunately suffered a brain bleed and a concussion when her head met the pavement as Foster tugged at her handbag. She was transported to the hospital where she fell as a result of dizziness related to her head injury and broke her pelvis, requiring surgery.
Foster has a criminal record that extends beyond the recent carjacking and purse snatching. Although most of his court records are inaccessible given his status as a juvenile, one document says he was suspected of committing the following crimes as of a hearing in October 2020: domestic assault, robbery, motor vehicle theft, escaping from custody, financial transaction card fraud, trespassing, tampering with a motor vehicle and a curfew violation.
Because of his violent nature, another document from July of this year describes him as a danger to public safety.
Kyle Hooten
Kyle Hooten is Managing Editor of Alpha News. His coverage of Minneapolis has been featured on television shows like Tucker Carlson Tonight and in print media outlets like the Wall Street Journal.
