A Selma man is behind bars for allegedly robbing an elderly woman underneath the Edmund Pettus Bridge at knifepoint.

According to Lt. Curtis Muhannad with the Selma Police Department, 36-year-old Roen Rivers of Selma was arrested Monday afternoon and charged with first-degree robbery, which is a Class A felony.

According to a press release from the Selma Police Department, a 75-year-old woman was walking on a trail at the foot of the bridge near Civil Rights Memorial Park when the robbery happened.

The woman told officers Rivers grabbed her by the arm when she was walking on the trail and was armed with a knife.

Rivers allegedly demanded the woman to give him her purse as he pointed the knife at her. Rivers fled the scene after the 75-year-old woman followed his orders and gave Rivers the purse.

The Selma Police Department was able to put Rivers at the scene of the robbery because the victim found a wallet that contained documents that identified Rivers at the scene and turned it in to police.

Investigators also recovered the victim’s purse and the knife used in the robbery near the crime scene.

“Detectives received information that Mr. Rivers was staying at an empty apartment in the 500 block of Medical Center Parkway,” the press release from Muhannad stated.

“The Major Crimes Unit detectives were able to make contact with Mr. Rivers at that location and detain him.”

Rivers was transported to the Selma Police Department, and after being interviewed about the robbery, detectives determined there was enough evidence to arrest Rivers on probable cause.

Rivers was transported to the Dallas County Jail with a $60,000 bond.

Rivers is a habitual felony offender with two prior felony convictions.

Rivers could face 99 years to life in prison as well as $60,000 in fines.