A robber in Iowa reportedly offered police officers $1 million not to arrest him for punching a woman in the face as he attempted to steal her purse, cops said.
The 49-year-old accused robber, Ricardo Esparza, followed the victim down an alley in Davenport just after 8 p.m. on Tuesday, according to arrest records obtained by The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier.
When the woman turned to face him, Esparza grabbed the straps of her purse, which was hanging on her shoulder. As the woman was struggling with him, Esparza punched her in the face, cops said.
The victim, who was not badly injured, called 911 and Esparza was arrested a short distance away from the alley, the report said.
While he was in the back of the police car, Esparza offered to give the arresting officers $1 million to release him. According to the arresting officers, Esparza said he could transfer the money directly into their bank account or give it to them directly in cash.
Officers asked Esparza if he was attempting to bribe them. He told them he was.
He was arraigned on Wednesday, where a judge set his cash bond at $10,000, according to The Courier. He’s scheduled to appear next in court on May 27.
