Two charged in Woodside purse snatching
State Police say they have arrested two men, in connection the theft of a purse in Woodside.
Delaware State Police say on Monday around 11:55 AM, a 62-year-old woman was walking back to her car, after buying something inside Uncle Willies on South DuPont Highway. While returning, Police say a man approached her from behind, and removed her purse from her wrist, forcefully.
According to the report, the suspect then fled across South DuPont Highway with the purse, towards Walgreens. The victim was apparently not injured in the confrontation.
She was reportedly able to provide enough of a description of the suspect’s clothing, that was given to Police, and led responding Troopers to locate 24-year-old Brandon Staats, of Townsend, behind the Walgreens.
Troopers say they continued to search for a second suspect who was with Staats at the time of the crime, and eventually located 24-year-old Joshua Bryant, of Dover, running out of the Walgreens, across Walnut Shade Road, before running into the Arby’s restaurant. Police were then reportedly able to take Bryant into custody in the bathroom of the establishment, where he was apparently found with the victim’s social security card and other documents.
Troopers say the manager at Walgreens told them that Bryant went into the store, and went directly into the bathroom where he was heard rustling through the garbage can. He then left the store, and was seen running across the parking lot towards the Arby’s.
Troopers say they later recovered the purse that belonged to the 62-year-old victim, along with some of its contents in the garbage can at the Walgreens, and were able to return most of the items back to the woman.
Staats was charged with robbery first degree, and conspiracy second degree, while Bryant was charged with conspiracy second degree, and five other capiases including a violation of probation out of various courts in Kent County. Each are now being held at the James T. Vaughn Correctional Center on bond, Staats on $35,000 and Bryant on $1,500.
