Second suspect arrested in Noem purse theft

Authorities on Sunday arrested a second suspect in the theft of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem’s purse at a downtown restaurant in Washington, D.C.

U.S. Secret Service Miami Field Office Special Agent in Charge Rafael Barros announced the arrest shortly after the Washington field office confirmed the arrest of the first suspect in the case.

Barros said on Sunday that the arrest was made with “critical assistance” from the Miami Beach Police Department and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations division, adding that Miami Beach Police officers located the suspect “after receiving information from Washington” and made the arrest “without incident.”

Barros said the second individual “is believed to be a co-conspirator” connected to “a pattern of robberies and thefts in Washington, D.C.,” including the robbery against the DHS secretary.

Noem's purse included some major belongings, including $3,000 in cash, her DHS access badge, passport, driver’s license, blank checks and keys. The theft occurred as Noem was celebrating Easter with her family earlier this month.

Earlier on Sunday, U.S. Secret Service Washington Field Office Special Agent in Charge Matt McCool announced the arrest of the first suspect, whom he did not identify by name but called “a serial offender.”

McCool said there was no indication Noem was targeted because of her position.

Following the arrest of the first individual, Noem released a statement to The Hill through a spokesperson.

“Thank you to Secret Service and ICE and our law enforcement partners for finding and arresting the criminal who stole my bag on Easter Sunday as I shared a meal with my family at a Washington DC restaurant,” Noem said in the statement.

“This individual is a career criminal who has been in our country illegally for years,” Noem added. “Unfortunately, so many families in this country have been made victims by crime, and that’s why President Trump is working every single day to make America safe and get these criminal aliens off of our streets.”

Neither suspect was identified by name, since formal charges had not yet been filed, as of Sunday evening.