By By Marianne Todd/The Meridian Star
Sept. 27, 2001
Lauderdale County deputies apprehended a man on Wednesday who allegedly snatched a purse from a 75-year-old woman after making conversation with her at her home.
Lt. Wade Johnson, spokesman for the Meridian Police Department, said 49-year-old Billy R. Taylor of 47 Timmons Park Road in Jasper, Ala., was arrested and charged with petit larceny shortly after the purse-snatching occurred Wednesday afternoon.
Taylor is being held on $1,000 bond at the Lauderdale County Detention Facility, an unusually high bond for a misdemeanor charge, Johnson said.
Johnson said the woman was robbed of her purse after Taylor allegedly approached her in the yard of her Druid Hills home and diverted her attention by making conversation.
A U.S. Postal carrier, who was delivering mail in the area at the time, was able to provide authorities with a good description of the car, Johnson said.
Taylor was spotted a short time later in the Collinsville area by sheriff's deputies, apprehended and transported back to the police department for questioning.
Johnson said police wanted to charge Taylor with strong-arm robbery, but had to press a petit larceny charge because of the way state statutes are written.
Marianne Todd is a staff writer for the Meridian Star. Call her at 693-1551, ext. 3236, or e-mail her at mtodd@themeridianstar.com.