WHITE SETTLEMENT, Texas — Police have made an arrest after a North Texas woman was cut on her hand when she woke up to a robbery suspect standing over her with a knife to her throat, police said.
The incident happened around 3 a.m. Friday in the 8400 block of Tumbleweed Trail in White Settlement at the Oak Timbers Apartments, where police were called to a report of a home invasion, according to a news release.
The resident, a woman in her late 60s who lives at an apartment community for seniors, reported that a man had entered her apartment and robbed her at knifepoint, police said.
Police arrived and found that woman with serious injuries to her hand that were "consistent with a sharp-blade instrument," according to the release.
Corey Palkoner, a resident and maintenance employee where the invasion took place, said the suspect tried entering his mother's home, but when it was locked, he moved on to the next unit.
"I can't imagine that happening, it shouldn't happen anywhere," Palkoner said. "I'm furious that it's happening to anybody, especially the elderly."
Police say they found a digital smartphone near where the home invasion took place, which was later shown to belong to the suspect.
A person of interest associated with the phone, 21-year-old Francisco Avila, was detained later that day at the Westlake Gardens Apartment complex, near where the crime took place, and police say they believe Avila may have been looking for the phone around where it was lost originally.
Police say they were able to obtain a search warrant for an apartment with ties to Avila and the phone, and several items of evidence were found linking him to the robbery. Other items and evidence were also found that may be connected to two other felonies unrelated to the home invasion.
Avila was charged with burglary of a habitation with intent to commit other felony, a first-degree felony.
“I want to thank our investigative, patrol, and dispatch teams for their quick and decisive actions taken today that resulted in this dangerous suspect being arrested within hours of the incident,” said White Settlement Police Chief Christopher Cook. “Bringing justice to this victim and restoring safety to our community is always our top priority.”
The woman was taken to a hospital and has since been released, police say.
She told investigators that she was sleeping when she woke up and saw the suspect standing over her "with a knife touching her throat." The woman said the man "demanded some of her property" and then she tried to push the knife away from her neck, according to the release. When she did that, she suffered a severe hand wound, police said.
"The suspect said I got some of the cash, got the keys, don’t call anyone for at least 10 minutes," Cook said.
During that time, the suspect fled.
Brian Amerson, the victim's family friend, said she called him shortly after she was robbed at knifepoint.
"I know she's traumatized," Amerson said. "I think I'd say I forgive you, but that doesn’t exonerate you from consequences."