Jessica Monserrate.jpg
Jessica Monserrate
(Syracuse Police Department)
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- A teenager assaulted two Destiny USA employees who confronted her after she stole bracelets and socks, police said.
Jessica Monserrate, 16, was arrested Aug. 27 and charged with robbing a security guard and a loss prevention worker, said the Syracuse Police Department in court papers. Monserrate was arrested about four weeks after the incident.
Police gave the following account of the reported robbery:
Monserrate, of Syracuse, was walking around the first floor of Lord & Taylor around 6:20 p.m. Aug. 5 when she picked up about six Alex & Ani bracelets. With the bracelets in hand, she rode an escalator to the store's second floor and slipped the jewelry into the pocket of her jeans.
Before leaving the store, Monserrate put a package of Ralph Lauren socks into her purse.
Meg Flynn, an asset protection manager, and Essam Ahmad, a security guard, confronted Monserrate outside the store. When they tried to place her in handcuffs, Monserrate started to fight.
The teenager swung her arms, repeatedly punching Flynn in the head and scratching her neck. Ahmad fell to the ground during the robbery.
Monserrate fled from the mall, leaving her purse and the stolen merchandise behind. Along with recovering the bracelets and socks, Flynn found Monserrate's Social Security card inside the purse.
Monserrate, of 110 Davis St., was charged with second-degree robbery, a felony, and third-degree assault, a misdemeanor. She is not listed as an Onondaga County Justice Center inmate.