Published: August 18, 2009 10:54 pm      

Alleged mall purse snatcher nabbed by police

LAVALE — A 24-year-old Ridgeley, W.Va., man remained jailed Tuesday after he allegedly snatched the purse of a 73-year-old woman in the J.C. Penney Store at the Country Club Mall.

Michael Shane Campbell was charged with robbery and theft over $500 following the 8:45 p.m. Monday incident that occurred in the catalog department area of the store.

Police said the victim’s 33-year-old granddaughter chased Campbell from the parking lot and down an embankment as police were called.

Maryland State Police patrol units, assisted by the medevac helicopter, established a perimeter in the mall area.

A short time later, Campbell was observed near a wooded area of Vocke Road near Interstate 68. He was then chased by Tfc. J.G. Cook, who made the arrest without further incident.

The victim’s purse and its contents were recovered, police said.

Campbell, who remained jailed Tuesday afternoon at the Allegany County Detention Center on $10,000 bond, is also being investigated by the Allegany County Bureau of Police in a separate case that occurred at the mall on Sunday, according to state police.

A Bureau of Police spokesman said a Frostburg woman who was shopping in a clothing department at Walmart allegedly had her purse snatched at about 4:30 p.m.

The purse was removed from a shopping cart while the victim was distracted, apparently by a second suspect.

The suspects fled and allegedly used the victim’s bank cards for transactions at businesses in the Wiley Ford area, police said.