A suspected purse snatcher was captured after allegedly crashing his car during a police chase on Route 8 Friday.
Mark Franklin of Derby allegedly stole a 37-year-old woman’s purse in the parking lot outside ShopRite on Bridgeport Avenue July 5. The woman had been loading groceries into her car and tried to get her purse back while Franklin drove away.
She was dragged 20 feet as Franklin sped off, police said. She was treated at the scene for minor injuries.
The crime happened at 12:30 p.m. Police were able to get a description of Franklin’s car, a blue-gray Volvo stolen out of Ansonia. Police learned similar crimes happened in Derby, Stratford and Trumbull.
In fact, Derby police believe Franklin robbed a woman of her purse in the Xpect Discounts parking lot on Pershing Drive. That crime happened at about 6 p.m. the same day as the Shelton purse snatching, police said.
The victim in Derby fell to the ground and was treated for unspecified injuries at St. Vincent’s Hospital, police said.
The Volvo was spotted in Shelton at about 4:45 p.m. Friday by Officer Chris Nugent, who makes up the Shelton Police Department’s canine unit with Jager, a police dog.
Nugent followed the Volvo onto Route 8 south then attempted to pull the vehicle over near exit 12. Franklin didn’t stop and led police on a chase that ended when he crashed his car into a light pole on Route 25 south in Trumbull, according to DoingItLocal.com.
Trumbull, Bridgeport and state police were involved in he pursuit.
Franklin then ran into the woods. He was eventually found by Nugent and the police dog.
DoingItLocal.com captured video from the end of the chase.
Shelton, Derby, and Stratford detectives later executed a search warrant at Franklin’s residence.
Shelton police charged Franklin with third-degree larceny (for possessing the stolen car), engaging police in a pursuit, reckless driving, evading responsibility, operating without a license, second-degree robbery, sixth-degree larceny and second-degree conspiracy to commit robbery.
Derby police charged Franklin with second-degree larceny, second-degree robbery and second-degree assault.
He was held over the weekend on a $300,000 bond and was scheduled to be arraigned in Superior Court in Derby today (Monday, July 11).
Jessica Rivera, 32, of Olivia Street in Derby, was charged Monday morning at her home, according to police. She was apparently a passenger in Franklin’s car during both incidents.
Shelton police charged her with second-degree robbery and conspiracy to commit second-degree robbery.
Rivera was held on a $250,000 bond and is scheduled to be arraigned at Superior Court in Derby on Tuesday.
