The Novato Police Department reported on social media that a 29-year-old Brentwood woman, Khadija Sultan, was arrested after attacking a 9-year-old boy and attempting to steal his bike. The police responded to an emergency call around 1 PM yesterday in an apartment complex on Ignacio Blvd, where community members had already restrained Sultan. According to the Novato Police Department's statement, Sultan was a stranger to the child and struck him during the failed robbery before citizens intervened.
The boy suffered minor injuries, and while the Novato Fire District medics were on the scene providing aid, the decision to have him transported to a hospital by his parent was made. Running through the streets Code 3, the Novato Police officers took Sultan into custody. She now faces charges of robbery and child abuse and is currently held at Marin County Jail. Despite the general advice against civilians directly engaging with criminals, the police department expressed gratitude for the bravery shown. "While we do not typically encourage community members to become physically involved with in-progress crimes for safety reasons, however we thank and commend our neighbors who intervened to protect this young child."
The Novato community has been encouraged to remain vigilant and support law enforcement. "Keep a watch and call us when you need us. We are here to 24/7 to help," states the police department, asking residents to dial 9-1-1 for emergencies and provide a non-emergency number for other concerns.
