West Columbia Police Arrest Purse Snatcher

The West Columbia Police Department has arrested a man they say snatched a woman's purse while she was loading groceries in her vehicle at a local Bi-Lo Tuesday.

Police arrested Ellis Ira Scarborough, 45, of West Columbia, and charged him with hit and run, simple possession of marijuana, purse snatching, and other traffic related offenses.

Police say around 3 p.m. Tuesday Scarborough pulled up behind a woman who was loading her groceries into the back of her vehicle at a Bi-Lo on Augusta Road, and grabbed the woman's purse from the cart and drove away. 

West Columbia Chief Dennis Tyndall said the suspect was then involved in a hit and run accident with another vehicle.

The driver of that vehicle followed the vehicle to Harbor Drive where the suspect jumped out of his car and ran away, according to the department.

West Columbia officers were able to find Scarabourgh and arrested him. Police also recovered the woman's purse, which was hidden under some brush in the wood line. 

Scarborough is being held at the Lexington County Detention Center pending a bond hearing.