UTICA — A 41-year-old man is accused of attacking and robbing a woman while riding in her car with her and her children late Tuesday, according to the Utica Police Department.

Police said Antonio Lawrence, of Utica, was a passenger in a vehicle being driven to Utica on Tuesday, along with the female driver and her children. Police said Lawrence started arguing with the woman, then spit on her and punched her in the face.

Lawrence grabbed the woman's cell phone out of her hand and threw it out the window, then grabbed her purse and threw it out the window as well — after taking out several hundred dollars, police stated.

The victim was able to drive to a residence on South Street, where she got herself and her children away from Lawrence. The woman called 911 at about 11 p.m.

Lawrence is charged with one count each of third-degree robbery and first-degree contempt, both felonies, as well as five counts of endangering the welfare of a child, authorities stated. He is scheduled to appear in Utica City Court.