Dejon Ventus, 20, of Moreno Valley, was booked on suspicion of felony strong-arm robbery on Friday, said deputies.
The female victim told authorities that Ventus came up to her at about 12:15 p.m. at Bethune Park at Kitching Street and Lurin Avenue and asked for change for a $20 bill. The woman said she walked to her car to get her wallet, and that's when Ventus shoved her to the ground and ran off with an undisclosed amount of money.
Arriving officers caught Ventus, and the victim positively identified him as the man who took her money.
Ventus was being held at the Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside in lieu of $25,000 bail.
Anyone with more information about the crime was urged to call Moreno Valley police at (951) 486-6700.
City News Service contributed to this report.
