MBPD: Woman assaulted and robbed of purse

A woman told Myrtle Beach police a man she was walking with hit her in the nose with the palm of his hand and took off with her purse after the two argued, authorities said.

Officers were called about 7:55 p.m. Friday to the 400 block of Flagg Street where a 22-year-old woman reported the incident, which police labeled a strong armed robbery in the report.

The victim told police she and the suspect were walking down the road discussing where they should have dinner to talk about their recent separation. The victim said the suspect was drunk and didn’t want to go to dinner, but just wanted cash from her instead, police said.

The victim didn’t want to give him cash for fear she would be further fueling his drunkenness, and a struggle over her purse broke out, according to the report.

The suspect hit the victim in the nose with his palm, causing the victim to release the purse, and the suspect then took it and ran as the victim chased after him, while screaming for someone to call the police, authorities said.

The suspect ran and hid in the abandoned Rainbow Court building off Flagg Street. Officers found him and he was taken into custody.

A suspect is currently being held at the Myrtle Beach Jail in connection with the incident, but charges are pending, police said.

The victim’s purse, containing her cellphone and $200 cash had not been found at the time of the report.

This story was originally published January 2, 2016 at 2:01 PM with the headline "MBPD: Woman assaulted and robbed of purse."