Suspect charged in downtown Ann Arbor purse snatching
A 27 year-old Ypsilanti resident is facing charges following an arrest Saturday for snatching a woman's purse in downtown Ann Arbor.
Christopher Courdway was charged Sunday with one count of unarmed robbery. He remains in the Washtenaw County Jail on $10,000 bond.
AnnArbor.com incorrectly reported Courdway's age in its earlier report.
The incident took place around 10 a.m. Saturday on the 100 block of South Main Street. Police said a 41 year-old Ann Arbor woman was waiting for a receipt after making a ATM withdrawal when Courdway yanked the purse from her hand and ran south on Main.
Two bystanders heard the woman scream for help and were able to physically detain the suspect before he struggled free and fled. Police apprehended him about five blocks away.
"It was a group effort in the sense that everyone played a role in making this arrest happen," Ann Arbor Police Sgt. Matt Lige said.
Courdway has previous convictions, Lige said. He was to appear Feb. 28 for a preliminary examination.
Comments
AAAC_Citizen
Mon, Feb 18, 2013 : 6:16 p.m.
Thanks to the good citizen who stopped the thief and did his best to keep a tight grip on him in the cold weather until finally the thief struggled to free himself. Appreciate the help,
FormerMichRes
Mon, Feb 18, 2013 : 11:58 a.m.
Not surprised by these stories. As a former Ann Arborite, I'm frankly disturbed by the frequency of these types of stories -- robberies, B&E's, etc. My wife and I were appalled last summer while visiting A2. The street people milling around and aggressively panhandling passersby were just outrageous. The Liberty Plaza park was like a human zoo! You can say Ann Arbor is like any college town, but that excuse really rings hollow when you visit other college towns. Ann Arborites and the town leaders have allowed this to happen. Ann Arbor was a great, fun town... now, what a mess!
Jack
Mon, Feb 18, 2013 : 8:15 p.m.
@Westfringe - Just for accuracy's sake - Engler did not shut down the hospitals. Blanchard did. I know because we had a relative in the hospital at the time.
Westfringe
Mon, Feb 18, 2013 : 5:53 p.m.
Doug, You can thank Engler for all of the street people. If he hadn't closed down the state-run metal hospitals 90% of these people would be there instead of downtown.
Doug
Mon, Feb 18, 2013 : 3:23 p.m.
That's what happens when the liberals run the show. Coddle the creatures who roam the streets.
actionjackson
Mon, Feb 18, 2013 : 2:43 p.m.
Where are you currently residing?
DBH
Sun, Feb 17, 2013 : 7:32 p.m.
Thanks for filling in the previous gap in the earlier story between his detention by the bystanders and the subsequent police chase.