LYNN — A 26-year-old Lynn woman was assaulted on Saturday night but was able to hold onto her purse during the attempted robbery.
Police responded to the area of Chatham and Essex Streets shortly after 7 p.m. and learned that the victim was assaulted by another woman, who had tried to grab her purse from her, Lynn Police Lt. Michael Kmiec said.
The victim told police that the woman pushed her against the wall, punched and kicked her, but she was able to fight her assailant off and hold onto her purse, Kmiec said.
Officers saw the victim in the area with another man, later identified as Jose Rosario, 23, of Lynn. Rosario was with the woman when she was upset so police stopped him, thinking he may have been involved in the assault and attempted robbery, Kmiec said.
Rosario wasn’t involved in the incident but he was arrested and charged with alien possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm without a firearm identification card and carrying a loaded firearm weapon.
Rosario had attempted to ditch his unlicensed gun when police approached him, Kmiec said.
The woman who committed the assault hasn’t been found, Kmiec said.
The incident is under investigation.
