Lieutenants help nab purse snatchers

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. David Tomiyama
  • 33rd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (AFPN) --  Two lieutenants stationed in northwest Florida came to the rescue after they witnessed a purse snatching in a local parking lot.

Second Lts. Justin Herman, from here, and Nick Garvey, from nearby Tyndall Air Force Base, chased two suspects they saw snatch a purse April 8.

After shopping at a local supermarket for a night of cards, the lieutenants saw the purse snatching and a male suspect jumping into a getaway truck with a woman and taking off.

The Airmen jumped into Lieutenant Garvey’s car and tracked the suspects while Lieutenant Herman called 911. The pursuit lasted only a few miles before the suspects’ truck started to break down.

“We could hear gears grinding, and their lights were dimming,” Lieutenant Herman said. “Evidently ‘Bonnie and Clyde’ didn’t know how to drive the getaway (truck’s) stick shift.”

The truck pulled into a fast-food restaurant where the suspects changed clothes and abandoned the vehicle.

Pulling in two spaces away, the Airmen watched as the suspects ran down a four-lane highway. Lieutenant Herman followed them on foot while relaying information to the police on his cell phone. The chase extended across the highway where Lieutenant Herman chased them barefoot after he lost his sandals.

“After everything that happened, these two were not getting away,” Lieutenant Herman said.

Local police arrived and arrested the two suspects. While searching the truck, the police found crack pipes. Both suspects were charged with grand theft for the purse snatching. One suspect has also been charged with possession of drug paraphernalia.

Martha Rousset, the purse-snatching victim, was shopping after a nine-hour drive from Louisiana. She said she was crushed to have her belongings taken.

“I told the lieutenants that they’re my heroes. If it wasn’t for them, the suspects wouldn’t have been caught,” Ms. Rousset said. “They put forth a lot of effort chasing those guys down. I’m so appreciative the world is made up mostly of good people, and Friday night, there were so many good people.”

Everything that was stolen from Ms. Rousset was returned to her.

“What made me glad is that she got everything back, her money, credit cards and (identification),” Lieutenant Herman said.

Local police department officials said they appreciated the help.

“We couldn’t have asked for better help in this case. They did exactly what they should do to help the police do their job,” said police Capt. Darrell Bruhn. “They observed, followed and kept us apprised of the situation.”

“Some people think it might’ve been taking an unnecessary risk, but I don’t think so. It was a calculated risk,” Lieutenant Herman said. “There are a lot of Airmen out there taking bigger risks, but I’m glad Nick and I could do our part.”

During the pursuit, the possibility of danger did cross the lieutenants’ minds.

“There were two times that I got nervous; one was when we peeled out of the grocery store parking lot in pursuit, and the second time was when I got out of the car and pursued on foot,” Lieutenant Herman said. “I stayed at a distance where I could see what they were doing, but far enough away that if they had a weapon, I could take defensive measures.”

In the end, the lieutenants said they did what they did because it was the right thing to do.

“I don’t think what we did was really a big deal. All we did was help the police make an arrest and get a purse back to its rightful owner,” Lieutenant Herman said. “As Airmen, we’re on duty 24 hours a day. Sometimes losing to our friends at (cards) just has to wait.”