Police arrest suspect accused of robbing North Texas woman at knifepoint in home invasion
A smartphone lying on the ground with its flashlight on led to the arrest of a suspect accused of cutting a woman during a home invasion robbery Friday, Nov. 8, in White Settlement, police said.
Francisco Avila, 21, was identified as the suspect in the early morning robbery.
Officers were alerted by a neighbor about a smartphone near the scene of the crime , and further investigation revealed that it belonged to Avila, according to a news release from White Settlement police.
He was detained at the Westlake Gardens Apartment Complex, located in the 8500 block of Robbins Drive. Avila was walking around when police found him, and officers believe he might have been looking for his lost mobile phone, police said.
The home invasion victim, a woman in her 60s, was asleep in her apartment around 3 a.m. when she was awakened by a man standing over her with a knife touching her throat, according to police.
The robber demanded the victim’s property. When she tried to push the knife away from her neck, she suffered serious wounds to her hands, police said.
The robbery occurred at the Oak Timbers Apartment Complex for active seniors in the 8400 block of Tumbleweed Trail. The police supervisor on residential patrol in the complex was called and immediately responded to the scene, officials said.
Surveillance footage revealed that Avila attempted to open doors to two different apartments that appeared to be locked before walking to the front porch of the victim’s apartment, police said.
The victim has been released from the hospital and is surrounded by family, police said.
Investigators said they obtained a search warrant for Avila’s apartment, where they found several items of interest including the ones taken from the victim.
Additional evidence was also located that may be associated with two other felony offenses, unrelated to the early morning crime, officials said.
Avila faces a charge of burglary of a habitation with intent to commit another felony. He is being held in the White Settlement Police Department Detention Facility.
More charges are likely as the investigation continues, police said. The department is consulting with the Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney’s Office about the charges.
