PD: Parishioners Stop Woman From Stealing Pastor's Wife's Wallet

A 44-year-old city woman who police say stole the wallet from a Baptist church pastor's wife after Sunday Mass was tackled by parishioners while trying to flee, according to Middletown Police.

On Aug. 11 at 1:26 p.m., police were called about a larceny suspect detained by parishioners, Wendy S. Barcomb, 44, of South Main Street, at First Baptist Church on Main Street, according to the report. Police are familiar with Barcomb, who has been arrested in the past. 

The report says she came into the church at 11:45 a.m. saying she'd to join so she filled out an application card with Wright as her last name. Documents say the pastor's wife was downstairs after Mass, talking with people, and left her purse with a wallet and a briefcase on a seat, then she noticed her wallet was gone as well as Barcomb.

The report says the victim saw Barcomb drinking a bottle of vodka in the bathroom and as she tried to leave she told her to lift her shirt. Instead, police say, Barcomb ran out of the building and was stopped after she yelled to fellow parishioners.

A corrections officer and parishioner stopped Barcomb who, the report says, became aggressive, and a pat-down revealed she had the woman's ATM and credit cards in her pockets. 

Barcomb was charged with sixth-degree larceny and breach of peace.

She was arrested in May of this year after an incident at the St. Vincent de Paul Soup Kitchen in which she caused a disturbance while intoxicated, according to police. In July 2011, she was charged with prostitution after allegedly asking an elderly man for a meal in exchange for sex.

According to the Connecticut Judicial website, Barcomb was convicted of disorderly conduct in 2012 and has two pending court cases from May in Middletown.

Also, in today's police news, PD: Middletown Man Facing Home Invasion Charge After Strangling Ex.