Officials of the Costa Rica Tourist Police division stationed in Limón apprehended a man considered the main suspect in the assault of a foreign tourist on Wednesay, October 11.

The suspect, a young man with the last name of Walcott, allegedly threatened the tourist and proceded to take away his cell phone and cash on Wednesday afternoon.

According to police information, the victim – a Spanish national – was getting out of a taxi in front of his hotel in the Atlantic seaside town of Puerto Viejo when the suspect approached him, and then assaulted him in order to rob him.

After promptly alerting the police of the incident, local officers were able to immediately search the area and capture Walcott, who fit the tourist’s description of the robber, in the center of Puerto Viejo.

Puerto Viejo is a popular tourist destination in the district of Cahuita, Talamanca in Costa Rica’s Caribbean province of Limón.

Police referred the subject to the Bribrí public prosecutor’s office to handle the incident.

The Limón coastal region has had increased police presence since March of this year to curb crime.