Sonoma Police Seek Suspect in Safeway Snatching

On Saturday evening, April 20 at approximately 8:25 PM, Sonoma Police deputies were dispatched to the Safeway Store at 477 W. Napa Street in the City of Sonoma for the report of a purse snatching that just occurred.

A vague description of the suspect was given and the surrounding area was immediately searched by several deputies.

The victim, a 57-year-old woman, reported that while shopping, the suspect approached her and told her he was going to take her purse. He then attempted to yank the purse from the victim and a brief struggle over the purse ensued. The suspect took the victim's purse, and removed the victim's wallet from the purse while running toward the exit.

A Good Samaritan, who was unidentified, was able to push the suspect to the ground just before the suspect made it to the exit.

Once the suspect exited the store, a Safeway employee, who saw the disturbance inside, tackled the suspect as he exited the store. The suspect dropped the victim's wallet and his black "A's" hat in the clash with the Safeway employee but was able to escape on foot toward 5th St. West.

Deputies retrieved and reviewed the surveillance video from Safeway and secured digital photographs of the suspect in the store during this incident. The suspect was a white male, approximately 6 feet tall, mid to late 20`s, with scraggly facial hair, navy blue sweat shirt, blue jeans, and Van`s type black shoes, wearing a black A's baseball cap.

Sonoma Police is releasing the attached surveillance photo of the suspect to the public in hopes someone will recognize him. Please contact Sonoma Police at 707-996-3601 if you have information about this case.