An indictment charging a Robinson woman who was captured on video firing a gun in the direction of a suspected purse snatcher last month was unsealed Monday after the woman’s arrest.
Emma Joyce Cotten, 28, was indicted last week on a deadly conduct charge, but the indictment was sealed because she had not been arrested in the Nov. 20 incident.
Cotten was taken into custody Friday evening and was released two hours later after posting a $10,000 bond on the third-degree felony charge.
Cotten’s attorney, Josh Tetens, did not return a phone message Monday.
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The incident, which occurred near the back of the Wal-Mart parking lot in Bellmead, was captured on video by at least two witnesses and sent to Bellmead police and media outlets.
Police initially asked for the public’s help to identify the woman because she was seen on the video leaving the area as Bellmead police arrived.
She later spoke to investigators about the incident and was released.
Cotten, who is seen on the video pointing a pistol at a suspected thief as other men had him pinned to the ground, appears to fire over the man’s head toward the American Bank building after he broke free from his captors and started running through the Wal-Mart parking lot near the Interstate 35 access road.
When police arrived, a group of men had detained 27-year-old Andre Dawson, who reportedly stole a purse belonging to an 84-year-old woman from her shopping cart. Police recovered the purse and arrested Dawson on theft of property and credit or debit card abuse charges.
The indictment alleges Cotten knowingly discharged a firearm at or in the direction of Dawson.
Dawson was not hit, but he is seen on the video falling to the ground. He gets back up, but the group tackles him again as police arrive.
