Woman punched and kicked in robbery attempt on the Common; two arrested

Boston Police report a woman sitting on a bench in the Common yesterday afternoon was punched and kicked when she refused to give up her purse to three women who spotted her handing some money to a friend.

Unsuccessful in their robbery attempt, police say, the three fled - two of them pursued by passersby who hailed a state trooper standing at Bowdoin and Beacon streets. He nabbed the pair and held them until Boston Police officers arrived soon after from the park.

Omaila Medina, 19, of Fall River and Jasmin Vega, 27, of Dorchester were charged with assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon (shod foot), assault and battery and attempted unarmed robbery.

Innocent, etc.