Woman arrested for robbery and assault in Redwood City

An East Palo Alto woman was arrested Thursday afternoon on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and robbery, according to a news release from the Redwood City Police Department.

The woman rode an Uber to a shopping center at 250 Walnut St. in Redwood City shortly after noon Thursday and threatened its driver with a knife when they arrived, demanding he hand over his cell phone. After giving the woman her phone, she demanded money to return the phone.

After a brief struggle, the woman cut the driver's arm and fled with her money, authorities said. The woman robbed two nearby businesses before leaving the scene, which officers learned from security footage.

Police had already begun investigating the incident when they received a call from a woman reporting a disturbance at 400 County Center in Redwood City. When authorities arrived, they found the woman matched the suspect's description and arrested her, they said.

After the victim identified her, the woman was taken to Maguire Correctional Centre.