East Toledo man arrested for stealing woman's purse

12/25/2004

An East Toledo man was arrested yesterday after police said he punched a woman in the chest, shoved her backward into the snow, and took her purse as she was walking to work in the 500 block of Navarre Avenue.

Patrick Harris, 31, of 946 1/2 Butler St. was booked into the Lucas County jail on a robbery charge. He is to be arraigned Monday in Toledo Municipal Court, authorities said.

Police said Gladys Gruetter, 46, was walking to her job at Walter's Pharmacy, 766 Oak St., about 9 a.m. when she was approached. A man punched her in the chest with his fist, shoved her, and pulled her purse from her. She pulled a knit cap off his head and watched him get into a sport utility vehicle and drive south in an alley, police said.

Within minutes, police found the SUV and tracks leading to the back of the suspect's residence. They entered the residence and found the suspect and items taken in the robbery.