Meeting in San Jose after arrest in beating of 88-year-old woman
SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) -- A San Jose woman known to her neighbors as Miss Flo is fighting for her life after being brutally beaten inside her own home. As police try to determine if a 19-year-old suspect had an accomplice, neighbors gathered Thursday night for an emergency meeting.
It was a very impressive turn out. One organizer said "we can complain or we can contribute."
RELATED: Family speaks after arrest made in violent SJ home invasion
Neighbors want to keep their streets and each other safe, as they pray for Miss Flo to recover.
Outraged and ready to take a stand; 200 neighbors, some meeting for the first time, came together to brainstorm ideas to fight crime in their neighborhood.
"Lighted streets and just getting neighbors to become more vigilant," said Lori Ortiz, San Jose resident.
RELATED: Man arrested in beating of 88-year-old woman in San Jose
"My parents are older. My wife's parents are older. We want to make sure everybody is working together and making sure everything stay safe," said Joe Rosa, San Jose resident.
Captain Nuno Ribeiro with the Santa Clara County sheriff's office says neighborhood involvement like this is critical.
RELATED: Elderly woman beaten hospitalized following San Jose home invasion
"Since the majority of crime does not occur in the presence of a law enforcement officer, we need the public's assistance to tie the evidence together to affect an arrest," said Cpt. Nuno Ribeiro, Santa Clara Co. Sheriff's office.
The sheriff's office has made an arrest in the home invasion robbery and beating of 88-year-old Flo Douglas.
Investigators say there's physical evidence linking 19-year-old Zachary Cuen to the crime. They say he broke into Douglas' home on Cragmont Avenue on Tuesday, viciously beat her and took her jewelry and her car. Deputies are investigating to determine if he had an accomplice.
"It was my grandmother, it could be yours. It could be your mother. Please, if you have any additional information, call," said Jocelyn Wallace Lewis, victim's granddaughter.
Anyone with information on the robbery is asked to call the sheriff's office's 24-hour tip line at (408) 808-4431.
Click here for a GoFundMe account that has been set up for Miss Flo.
