Tampa robbery suspect who wore 'No Christ No Life' shirt while assaulting 82-year-old woman arrested: Police

Police looking for man who attacked 82-year-old

Investigators say they are looking for a white male that's approximately 6 feet tall. The Tampa Police Department says the man was wearing a blue hat and a white T-shirt featuring the text "No Christ No Life," during the attack.

TAMPA, Fla. - Tampa police arrested a man accused of brutally assaulting and robbing an 82-year-old woman near a bus stop on Friday evening, leaving the victim unconscious before fleeing the scene.

The backstory:

The alleged attack occurred around 7:45 p.m. on Friday, near the intersection of West Hillsborough Avenue and North Habana Avenue. According to investigators, the victim was walking past the suspect when he suddenly attacked her.

The Tampa Police Department says the woman was grabbed by the hair and thrown to the ground.

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After the woman was knocked unconscious, the suspect reportedly grabbed her bag and fled the area on a bicycle. The victim was taken to a local hospital for treatment and has since been released to continue her recovery at home.

Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw condemned the attack in a statement released Tuesday, calling the incident a "cowardly act of violence."

Community tip

Investigators say a witness captured video footage of the incident using a Tesla dash camera, which provided key leads in the case. 

The suspect was seen wearing a blue hat and a white T-shirt with the text "No Christ No Life" on the front.

Suspect linked to earlier theft

As detectives continued working the case, they also discovered the suspect matched the description of a person involved in a bicycle theft earlier the same day near North Florida Avenue and East Columbus Drive.

That connection helped guide patrol officers as they continued searching for the suspect in the area.

On Tuesday afternoon, officers spotted the suspect near Nebraska Avenue. Police identified him as Joseph Wren, 57. He was taken into custody at the intersection of North Nebraska Avenue and East Annie Street. 

Courtesy: Tampa Police Department

Wren faces a charge of robbery in connection with the attack. 

What they're saying:

"The outstanding investigation, community assistance, and proactive policing that led to a quick arrest in this case is a testament to the strength of our city," Bercaw said. "It should be clear that in Tampa we all work together to hold criminals accountable, especially those who would foolishly choose to target our neighbors."