Purse Snatcher Suspect Tackled By Bystanders: Police

DEARBORN, MI — A couple of bystanders thwarted a purse snatching, Dearborn police said.

The incident happened on Friday, Jan. 27 at approximately 9:00 a.m. in the area of Warren Ave. and Steadman. Dearborn Police arrived at the scene and found witnesses had detained the suspect, 27-year-old Dandre Reginald-Devonn Heard of Detroit.

Police say the victim was walking on Warren Ave. when the suspect reportedly forcibly took her purse. Two men saw the whole thing and chased down the suspect, eventually tackling him, police say. The men detained the suspect until officers were on the scene. The victim was not hurt during the ordeal and found her purse close by in an alley.

The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office charged Heard with Larceny from Person, and he was arraigned by Magistrate Meletios Golematis of the 34th District Court. Bond was set at $1,000 cash/surety and a probable cause conference is scheduled for Feb. 10 at 9 a.m. A preliminary exam will be held Feb. 17 at 9 a.m.

“Crimes of this nature will not be tolerated in Dearborn," Dearborn Police Chief Ronald Haddad said in a statement. "These brazen acts destroy citizen’s quality of life and, while I do not encourage witnesses to detain suspects, I commend these two for assisting a citizen in need.”

Photo courtesy of the Dearborn police