Oct 7, 2008 3:52 pm US/Pacific
Man Helps Police Catch Purse Snatcher
LANCASTER
A man who saw a purse-snatching in Lancaster dialed 911, and sheriff's deputies arrested the suspect, a deputy said Tuesday.
Richard Merati of Ridgecrest was near 17th Street West and Avenue I about 1:25 p.m. Monday when he saw the 17-year-old boy get off a bicycle and walk up behind the woman, who was sitting on a bus bench, a deputy said.
While watching, Merati punched in 911 on his cellular phone, then made the call just as the boy grabbed the purse and rode away, a deputy said.
Merati followed the suspect, relaying his location to the 911 operator, until he lost sight of the suspect as he ran behind a vacant house on Thornwood Avenue, where deputies arrested him.
The 67-year-old woman, who was uninjured, got her purse back, according to deputies.
(© 2008 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)
