Police need leads in carrier assault

3/12/2005

Toledo police are looking for tips about a man who punched a 71-year-old Blade carrier and robbed her of her keys last week as she was delivering papers.

Phyllis Rhoton was punched in the face and robbed March 4 in the 1000 block of Page Street. She was treated at St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center.

She was taking a newspaper up to the front porch of a home at about 6:15 a.m. when the man walked behind her and demanded money. When she told him she had none, he hit her in the left eye, knocking her to the ground. He searched her pockets and found only a set of keys, which he took, police said.

A 68-year-old woman with whom Ms. Rhoton delivers the newspaper remained in the car. The man went to the car and told her to get out and give him money. She locked the doors and refused. He fled, police said.

The suspect was described as being black, 6 feet tall, weighing 200 pounds, and wearing dark clothes with a hood.

The Blade is offering a $5,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest and conviction in the robbery. Anyone with information is asked to call the Crime Stopper program at 419-255-1111.