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Sheriff searching for man who snatched 86-year-old woman’s purse

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6:29 PM Thursday, July 2, 2009

The Clark County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a suspect who helped an elderly woman with her groceries, then snatched her purse earlier this week.

Investigators are looking for Matthew D. Nichols, who is in his early 20s, slender build, about 6-feet-3 inches tall with “normal length” brown hair, according to a sheriff’s report.

The suspect reportedly approached an 86-year-old woman in Kroger’s, 2728 E. Main St., Monday, June 29, and asked for her help in finding his vehicle.

Nichols helped her with her groceries, then grabbed her purse and fled, said Clark County Sheriff Gene Kelly.

“He’s a predator,” said Kelly.

Nichols was seen running west toward some houses on Roseland Avenue, according to the report.

The woman was not injured.

Anyone with information about the robbery is asked to contact the sheriff’s office at (937) 328-2560.

Jessica Marie Tripp, 19, of Cable, Oh., was arrested on charges of theft and drug paraphernalia Wednesday, July 1, according to a police report.

Tripp entered Kroger, at 2300 N. Limestone, at 5:45 p.m., hid items in her purse and tried to leave without paying, according to the report. With the help of Kroger’s loss prevention officer, police found seven syringes and a spoon in Tripp’s purse, according to the report.

She was summoned into court.

William H. Calhoun, 27, of 338 W. Perrin Ave., was arrested on a charge of domestic violence and assault Wednesday, July 1, according to the report.

Calhoun punched a woman he knew in the face in the 100 block of West Auburn Avenue around 3 a.m. Wednesday, according to the report.

Calhoun reportedly told police he punched the woman after she hit him in the head with a beer bottle, according to the report.

He was taken to Clark County Jail.

Thefts reported to police and sheriff’s deputies included:

• A man from the 2000 block of Bechtle Avenue reported an orthopedic chair, valued at $900, stolen from the first block of South Limestone Street between 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 23 and 9 a.m. Wednesday, June 24.

• A man from the 700 block of Van Buren Ave., Mo., reported a car stereo, valued at $479, stolen from the 100 block of Raydo Circle between 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 30 and 6 a.m. Wednesday, July 1.

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