Crime & Safety
UPDATE: Two Arrested in Assault/Purse-Snatching Incident at Price Chopper
The Marlborough Police Department made an arrest near Price Chopper Sunday after an older woman was assaulted in public for her purse.
UPDATE, Dec. 8, 4 p.m.: Eyewitnesses to this crime have reported that the theft of the purse occurred inside , then after a confrontation the suspect fled to the Price Chopper. Here the victim was aided by at least two Price Chopper employees until police officers arrived. These details were unclear in the police report.
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Marlborough Police officers responded to early Sunday evening after a woman was reportedly robbed of her purse.
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"The victim was shopping and a female walked up to the cart and grabbed her pocket book," said Det. Scott DeCiero.
The victim, a 62-year-old female, followed her assailant out of the store and confronted Melissa A. Martin, 29, of 5 Gay St., Apt. 1, and asked her to return the purse. Police records indicate that Martin then assaulted the victim by punching her in the forehead and pushing her to the ground.
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Martin was reportedly assisted in alleged crime by Patrick M. Ryan, 40, of 12 Coburn, Framingham.
Martin then fled the Price Chopper property in the direction of Hosmer Street and was pursued by the victim as well as several Price Chopper employees. Police officers located Martin a short distance from the plaza and placed her under arrest.
She was found in possession of a knife in her pocket.
Martin was charged with larceny from a person, impeding an investigation through witness intimidation, carrying a dangerous weapon, assault and battery on a person older than 60 with an injury and on an outstanding warrant. The warrant was issued out of Marlborough District Court and was for evading bus fare.
Ryan was taken into police custody after he subsequently called Martin's cell phone and later showed up at police headquarters at which time he was questioned. He was charged with larceny from a person, impeding an investigation through witness intimidation and assault and battery on a person older than 60 with an injury.
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