Police: Man grabs 80-year-old's purse, drags her several feet before fleeing

photo Sean Morcombe

A 30-year-old man was arrested Tuesday night after leading police on a chase near Rossville.

The chase began when a Chattanooga police investigator tried to arrest Sean Morcombe at the St. Elmo Bi-Lo at 3801 Tennessee Ave., police spokeswoman Sgt. Jerri Weary said in an email. A man had grabbed 80-year-old Grace Garcia's purse, dragging her several feet and breaking her foot. When the investigator tried to arrest Morcombe in connection with the crime, the man fled.

The suspect eventually crashed his car into a fence at 4303 Seventh Ave. before running a block away and hiding in a drainage ditch on Sixth Avenue, Weary said.

When Chattanooga police arrived at the crash scene, onlookers pointed officers to Morcombe. He was arrested on suspicion of robbery, evading arrest and reckless endangerment.

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