Teen hits, snatches purse from 79-year-old woman in downtown Conway, cops say

Conway police say a teenager hit a 79-year-old woman in the leg and snatched her purse while she was standing outside of a voter registration office downtown Thursday.

Eric Lamont Deery, 17, is charged with strong armed robbery.

Conway officers were dispatched to 1515 Fourth Ave. about noon.

The victim told police she was waiting to go into the voting office when she saw the suspect walking toward her. The report said the suspect walked past the woman and then came up behind her, hit her in the leg and almost knocked her down.

The teenager allegedly grabbed the woman’s purse and fled toward BB&T Bank on Fourth Avenue.

Two witnesses and the victim called 911 and gave a description of the suspect, saying he was carrying a pink phone, the report said.

An officer found the suspect within minutes after the incident. He ran away after the officer asked him to stop, a report said. Another officer caught the suspect and detained him near Sixth Avenue and Currie Street, authorities said.

In the floorboard of the car, police said they found the victim’s credit card. There was $54 in the suspect’s pants that belonged to the victim, police said. The victim’s purse was found in a nearby dumpster.

Authorities issued a warrant for strong armed robbery, and the teenager was transported to DJJ in Columbia.

This story was originally published October 22, 2018 at 11:02 AM.