Woman arrested in attack on tourist at Santa Monica Coffee Bean

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (KABC) -- Police have arrested a suspect in the attack on a tourist at a Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf in Santa Monica.

Sara Rizo, 39, was taken into custody Monday around 10:30 p.m. in the area of 2nd Street and Santa Monica Boulevard. She was booked for battery with serious bodily injury.

The incident happened on June 9 in the 200 block of Santa Monica Boulevard. Barbara Lowy, who was visiting California from New York with her husband, said the suspect grabbed her hair and threw her to the ground before threatening to shoot her with a machine gun.

Lowy's husband punched the woman, who then ran off.

The motive for the attack was unknown, but Lowy said she believes the suspect has mental health issues.