A second suspect believed to be involved in the purse robbery of Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has been arrested, the U.S. Secret Service announced.
In a statement, agents from the Secret Service and Immigration and Customs Enforcement said they arrested a suspect believed to be a co-conspirator in the robbery in Miami, Florida. The name of the suspect has not been released as charges are still being filed, but the person is being held on an immigration detainer, meaning they may be an illegal immigrant subject to deportation from the country.
Authorities had already indicated they were looking for a second suspect who is believed to be in the country illegally.
Special agent Rafael Barros of the U.S. Secret Service Miami Field Office detailed the arrest, which was made with assistance from the Miami Beach Police Department and ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations division.
“Public safety is strongest when built on trust and collaboration. We are grateful to the Miami Beach Police Department for their swift and outstanding assistance in today’s apprehension. After receiving information from Washington, Miami Beach Police officers quickly implemented targeted patrols and located the defendant, who was taken into custody without incident,” Barros said.
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This follows the arrest on Saturday night of the man suspected to have stolen Noem’s high-value Gucci bag from a restaurant in Washington, D.C. He is believed to be an illegal immigrant, according to Ed Martin, the interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia.
The robbery is one of multiple purse robberies believed to be a theft ring targeting Washington, D.C.’s Penn Quarter. It is not believed that the suspect targeted Noem because of her role in the federal government.