Man on bicycle allegedly steals woman’s purse at gunpoint

A 31-year-old Glendale man was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of stealing a woman’s purse at gunpoint while riding a bicycle, police said.

Special Enforcement Detail officers recognized the man, Ramiro Galicia, from the description provided by the victim in the robbery, Glendale Police Sgt. Tom Lorenz said. They stopped him last week in the city for riding his bicycle on the sidewalk and let him go on a warning, he added.

Several days later, police said Ramiro Galicia robbed a Glendale woman of her purse as she arrived home in the 600 block of East Elk Avenue. He was allegedly riding a bicycle and pointed a semiautomatic pistol at her.

Her purse contained an iPhone, credit cards, identification for work, inhaler, prescription glasses and cash, police said.

The woman described the robber as riding a white bicycle, which Lorenz said officers specifically recalled from their encounter with Ramiro Galicia. He is on probation for possessing a controlled substance, Lorenz added.

Detectives obtained a warrant to search his home in the 900 block of East Garfield Street, where they found a white bicycle and a replica handgun, he said.

Detectives found an iPhone, so they called the victim’s phone number. The iPhone immediately rang, Lorenz said.

Police recovered most of the woman’s valuables from the apartment, Lorenz added.

They arrested Ramiro Galicia in connection with the robbery. Detectives also arrested his brother, David Galicia, 26, of Glendale, on suspicion of receiving stolen property and possessing drug paraphernalia.

The brothers have since bonded out of jail, Lorenz said.