CPD arrest three suspects in purse snatching case
Suspects were named in purse-snatching investigation Tuesday.
Published Sept. 4, 2009
Three people were arrested by the Columbia Police Department on Tuesday while driving a car that matched the description of eyewitnesses from three purse-snatching incidences.
Christopher Hunt, Brandi Myers and Preston Walden were taken into custody. According to a CPD news release, the suspects made incriminating statements in their involvement with these crimes. The news release also stated CPD is searching for a fourth suspect, Kendra Ayers, who has also been incriminated.
According to the news release, all three victims were female senior citizens. The first incident occurred outside Best Western at 3100 I-70 Drive Southeast where the victim was knocked to the ground while walking into the building around 2 a.m. The suspects ran off with the victim's purse.
"When I read the actual report, there wasn't any mention of injuries," CPD spokeswoman Jessie Haden said. "However, the first one actually suffered a broken arm. She probably didn't know it at the time."
The news release also stated 12 days later, a similar incident happened in the parking lot of the Parkade Center at 601 West Business Loop 70, when the victim was stopped and asked for directions. The suspects then shoved her and grabbed her purse. Witnesses saw them get into a Toyota Camry, the news release stated.
The third happened the following day in the parking lot of the West Broadway Walmart, where another woman was robbed standing by her car at 2 p.m.
The news release also stated they were again witnessed entering a car, which matched the description from the day before.
Officers began searching for the vehicle, which was identified by an officer on patrol around 3 a.m. Tuesday, the news release stated. The suspects were identified and taken into custody.
"One of the things we noticed (in the car) was some other purses," Haden said. "We think they may be responsible for other purse snatching outside of Columbia."
Haden also said CPD is now contacting other agencies outside of Columbia to determine if this is the case.