RockemSockem

WOWT - HomePage

A trio of robbers picked on the wrong victim Tuesday morning, an off-duty police officer. It led to the capture of one of the suspects.

The robbery attempt was the second such incident in as many days.

Shortly after 1:30 a.m. Monday, 28-year-old Amanda Lieb was leaving the Walgreens at 132nd and West Center. "The victim was walking towards her vehicle and was struck from behind with a bottle," says Omaha Police Sgt. Teresa Negron.

A young man stole her purse, car keys, and merchandise that she had just purchased. He got into a white, four-door sedan occupied by two other suspects and drove off.

It happened again Tuesday just after midnight in the Baker's parking lot on South 136th Street near Q in Millard. This time, they targeted the wrong person, an off-duty police officer.

"He was able to prevent the suspect from striking him from behind with the bottle and struggled with the victims, obviously his training added to what he was able to do," says Sgt. Negron.

The officer, Steve Jennum, has had extensive training in the martial arts, trained enough to instruct others. He struggled with one of the suspects until another pulled a knife. Jennum says he backed off and the suspects fled.

Jennum reported it to police and then started searching the area for the three in the white car who attacked him. He found the car parked at 131st and D Plaza, then notified his police friends and they arrested 20-year-old Manuel Robles.

Robles was booked as an accessory to a felony. Police later arrested the two other suspects, 18-year-old Alisha Sickels of Omaha and 18-year old Jessica Whittaker of Washington, Illinois.

Police caution us that even though they have special patrols out in some parking lots, it's up to us to be aware of our surroundings and any potential danger.

They advise us to park as close to the door of an establishment as possible and beneath a light.