ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – St. Augustine police officers chased down a pair of purse snatching suspects Tuesday night, according to the St. Augustine Police Department.
Marlon Jermaine Lewis, 19, and a 15-year-old St. Augustine resident police did not name were arrested and charged with robbery by sudden snatching.
Recommended Videos
Police said a little after 7 p.m., officers were called to the intersection of Riberia Street and Carrera Street because of a purse snatching.
Officer Roy Smith found the victim, a 25-year-old St. Augustine resident, lying on the ground crying. She said two teen-aged boys on bicycles had approached her, knocked her to the ground and stolen her purse.
While Smith was talking to the victim, Officer Chris Miller spotted the suspects crossing U.S. 1 and running from him on the railroad tracks. Smith and Officer Wayne Ferrell went further south to intercept the teens, who turned back and ran in the other direction.
Smith and Ferrell were able to catch the boys and found the victim's purse in Lewis' pocket. She identified Lewis as the man who'd pushed her and taken her purse.
Lewis was also charged with simple battery, trespassing on railroad property and resisting an officer without violence. The 15-year-old was also charged with resisting and violation of probation for being out past his curfew.