Cedar Park Police Seek Suspect Who Beat, Robbed Vietnam War Vet

CEDAR PARK, TX — Cedar Park Police are asking for the public's help in finding a robbery suspect accused of following a resident from the bank to his home, hitting him over the head and taking the victim's money.

The incident dates to May 30 at around 6 p.m. According to police, the victim was followed from a Chase Bank branch at 1485 Cypress Creek Rd. to a nearby apartment complex at 1600 Lakeline Blvd. As the victim was walking from his vehicle to an apartment, he was hit in the back of the head and knocked to the ground, police said in a press advisory.

The suspect continued to hit the victim in the abdomen before grabbing an envelope containing $500 from his pocket, police said. The suspect then got into a black vehicle and fled the scene, police added. Review of apartment surveillance camera video shows the suspect's vehicle may be a Honda Civic with paper plates, police noted.

Related story: Police Warn Of Rise In Williamson County 'Jugging' Incidents

The victim is described as a 68-year-old veteran of the Vietnam war, and was at the apartment complex helping a friend move. He was treated for his injuries, and is currently recovering, police said.

The victim described the suspect as a black male of about 30 years of age standing at about six feet tall and weighing 170 pounds. The victim noted there may have been another black man in the vehicle, but he was unable to provide a detailed description.

The Cedar Park Police Department released a sketch of the suspect based on the victim's description. Anyone with information about the identity of the suspect in this case is urged to contact Detective Marie Reinarz at (512) 260-4880 or via email at marie.reinarz@cedarparktexas.gov. Those with information also can submit an anonymous tip by texting the keyword CPPD and the information to 847411 or use the CPPD Tips app available for download on cell phones. Tipsters are asked to reference case number 1805-0509 in communicating with police.

Following a previous advisory to residents, police reiterated the need to be aware of potential such "jugging" incidents that appear to be on the rise. Such crimes occur when criminals follow people exiting banks in order to rob them of their money.

If you suspect you are being targeted, call 9-1-1 so a dispatcher can pinpoint your location and respond accordingly, police said.

>>> Image of jugging suspect courtesy of Cedar Park Police Department