Woman faces charges in theft and assault

NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- A New Castle woman accused of stealing an elderly woman's purse and then running over the victim with her car is in Lawrence County Jail on $100,000 bond.
Pennsylvania State Police said Erika L. Rossi, 19, of South Cedar Street, approached the car of Clara J. Jolley, 70, also of New Castle, in the Shop-N-Save parking lot in Union Township around 6:15 p.m. Thursday and knocked on the passenger side window, asking for directions. When Jolley rolled the window down, Rossi reached in, grabbed the purse and ran off, police said.
Jolley got out of her car and gave chase. When Rossi got into her own car to drive away, Jolley tried to block her path with her body but the car ran over Jolley, causing injury to her right knee, police said. Police didn't know if she was taken to a hospital for treatment.
Rossi drove off but was stopped by New Castle police a short time later near Crestview Gardens in that city. She was arraigned Friday on charges of robbery and aggravated assault.