A Texas man was captured on Ring doorbell camera putting an elderly woman into a chokehold during a robbery of her north Houston home, police said.
Melvin Walker, 61, was allegedly on a two-day crime rampage Monday when he approached the 86-year-old homeowner at around 9 a.m. while she was watering flowers, according to Houston police.
The stranger looked suspiciously toward the street before quickly closing in on the woman and violently wrapping his arms around her neck.
The victim put up her hands and attempted to retreat. Police said the woman was hospitalized for her injuries.
It is not clear what Walker was accused of stealing from the woman’s home, though he was spotted escaping down the street with a blue towel over his head.
Records show Walker was arrested the same day as the chokehold and charged with evading arrest, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, and felony in possession of a weapon.
The following day, he was slapped with burglary with intent to commit other felony and aggravated robbery charges.
Police said Walker had committed multiple crimes across two days but did not release the details of the other acts he allegedly committed before his stop at the elderly woman’s home, according to Click 2 Houston.
Walker has a history of run-ins with police dating back to 1981, records show.
He has been charged with burglary, marijuana possession, and felon in possession of a weapon, though some of the charges were later dismissed.
