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Purse Snatcher Busted After High Speed Chase
December 12, 2015
An Atmore purse snatcher is behind bars after a high speed chase, thanks to the efforts of both police and two Walnut Hill men.
A man — later identified as Joel Andrew White of Shelby, Ala. — allegedly grabbed a purse from a female in the parking lot of the Ramey’s grocery store on Lindberg Avenue in Atmore. He ran toward his getaway car, with the victim giving chase on foot and attempting to retrieve the purse. White sped away, throwing the victim to the ground causing injuries to her head, side and arms. White then fled down South Presley Street and crossed into Florida on Highway 97
Witnesses at the scene followed White several miles into Florida, but lost sight of his Toyota due to him driving recklessly at a high rate of speed. Several minutes later, the witnesses spotted White again – this time headed back into Alabama. Atmore Police spotted the vehicle and gave chase, but called off the pursuit due to public safety concerns.
White was then spotted westbound on Highway 31, traveling at a high rate of speed. The witnesses lost sight of the vehicle, but later found it parked at a residence off West Road in Atmore.
Atmore Police responded to the residence and immediately set up a perimeter. Officers observed White flee the residence on foot and gave chase. After a short foot pursuit, White was arrested without incident.
White was charged with third degree robbery, second degree theft of property and third degree assault. The vehicle he was driving was found to be stolen out of Shelby County, Ala.
Atmore Police Chief Chuck Brooks offered his thanks to Austin Eicher and Jake McCall of Walnut Hill for their assistance in the capture of White.
Comments
13 Responses to “Purse Snatcher Busted After High Speed Chase”
Thank you good Samaritans. I am the owner of the car he was driving & am grateful to know he was finally caught because I was a victim of his two months prior & reported everything stolen immediately.
Purse snatcher- what a wimp!
Maybe he just wanted a new purse.
He would not have been caught if the citizens had not become involved. If you just make a call and report a crime often it is too late for justice. Act quick yet be safe. And yes it is worth it to stand your ground and fight back. The idea of letting criminals and wolves steal and kill is wrong and trusting to let the LEO work magic is idealist at best. My common sense tells me otherwise as does a 30% rate of crimes solved.
It’s sad when the atmore Police Dept.can’t even relay the information over the radio to ECSO in Alabama..They have no communication capibilites with ECSO at all…They could have assisted with this incident.. Tell that to the Alabama commissioners!!!!
Glad he got caught ! I’m also thankful for his own sake he got off the streets before he snatched the wrong woman’s purse !
—–better to have called off the chase than have him hit some innocent family. A stolen purse is not as important as lives and it turned out well in the end.
Yeah patriot
Can mail it to the owner of the car…
Even though it was stolen.
Another thug off the street.
Set Bond low so he can do it again.
Prayers for the victim and prayers for the White family.
Great play Mr Eicher and Mr McCall.
Charged with robbery, but called off the chase?
Won’t be long before the cops just mail a letter to the suspect requesting that they give up when they’re ready.
Good job to everyone involved. Hope the victim will be ok.
Glad this idiot is off the streets.