Wheat Ridge police confirmed Monday that the man shot Saturday at the U.S.-Mexico border crossing near Tijuana is a suspect in a series of metro Denver purse-snatchings.
Richard Cress, 54, of Thornton allegedly tried to flee in a stolen Chevrolet Tahoe when a Customs and Border Protection officer asked him to pull into a secondary inspection area. The sport utility vehicle hit several cars and a motorcycle and nearly hit a CBP officer. No one was seriously injured.
Cress was shot once in the shoulder. He was released from a San Diego hospital Sunday and arraigned Monday on federal assault charges, Wheat Ridge police said.
Last month, Wheat Ridge police named Cress as a suspect in at least 20 metro purse snatchings since January, including six in Wheat Ridge. Police said the purse snatcher targeted women who left their purses in unlocked vehicles as they pumped gas. Five victims were 70 to 95 years old.
The Tahoe that Cress was driving was stolen in Colorado Springs and outfitted with license plates stolen in Los Angeles, according to police.
Jefferson County prosecutors expect to charge Cress with robbery and theft against at-risk adults once “the federal charges are satisfied,” according to a statement from Wheat Ridge police.
Cress’ criminal record in Colorado dates to 1990, records show. His previous charges include robbery, theft, drunken driving, escapes, drug charges, trespassing and traffic offenses.
In 2007, he was sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to an escape charge in Adams County. He also has arrest records in Denver, Jefferson, Boulder, Pueblo and Pitkin counties.
Joey Bunch: 303-954-1174 or jbunch@denverpost.com
