A woman reported to the Odessa Police Department that her ex-boyfriend had stolen her purse and cellphone outside of his tent within city limits, a probable cause affidavit stated.
Mark Anthony Santiesteban, 37, was charged with robbery, a second-degree felony.
Officers were dispatched Sept. 16 to the DK, located at 3660 W. Eighth Street, in reference to the incident, the affidavit detailed. The victim was identified as Tonya Keller.
Keller reportedly told officers that she was visiting her ex-boyfriend, Santiesteban, at his tent in the mesquite brush in the 300 block of W. Eighth Street. Keller stated they started arguing and she began to walk away from the tent.
When she got a little bit away from the tent, Keller stated that Santiesteban grabbed her purse and began trying to pull it away from her, the affidavit stated.
Keller reportedly told police that Santiesteban pushed her backward onto the ground and then kept trying to pull the purse from her. Keller stated the purse was torn from her and Santiesteban took her phone as well.
Keller stated she went to the DK where the clerk called the police, the affidavit stated. Keller stated she got some scrapes and a rash on the back of her leg from when she was pushed down.
Officers reportedly saw red marks on the back of Keller’s leg, which was consistent with her story. Keller stated she never gave Santiesteban permission to take her purse or phone.
Officers went to where the tent was stated to be located and found Santiesteban, the affidavit stated. Santiesteban showed officers where Tonya’s purse was on the ground a small ways away from the tent. Santiesteban also had Keller’s phone in his pocket and he referred to it as “her phone” multiple times.
Officers reportedly saw the scene where it showed the purse to be on the ground completely open and its contents all over the ground.
A call to dispatch was also made by Santiesteban earlier in the night, the affidavit stated. During the call, Santiesteban told dispatch that Keller ran away from him after he tried to take her “dope” from her. Santiesteban admitted to making the call.
Santiesteban was booked into the Ector County Law Enforcement Center on Sept. 16, jail records show. He has one bond totaling $30,000 and he was still in custody as of Friday morning.
