Shreveport Police Dept.

Date: Dec 26, 2007

Phone: 318/673-6932 Fax: 318/673-6933

Contact: Randy Patrick, Night-Side P.I.O.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Purse snatching arrest

Shreveport Police Armed Robbery detectives have made an arrest in a purse snatching which sent an elderly woman to the hospital this afternoon.

Ida Stephens, DOB 10-18-1946, was leaving the Super 1 Foods at Hearne and Waggoner shortly before 5:00 PM this evening when she was approached by a white male in his late 20's who tried to take her purse.

Went Mrs. Stephens tried to resist, John Beckett, DOB 12-17-1983 hit her and pulled her by the purse to his vehicle. When Beckett sped away from the scene Mrs. Stephens was knocked to the ground and sustained a serious head wound.

Beckett is charged with 2nd Degree Robbery because of Mrs. Stephens sustained a serious injury as a result of the purse snatching.

Information can be left with crimestoppers at 673-7373 or by logging onto the crimestoppers website at www.crimestoppersshreveportcaddo.com.

-spd-

View all SPD press releases at www.ci.shreveport.la.us/dept/police/spdnews