ROCKLAND, Maine — A 30-year-old Massachusetts man is behind bars after he allegedly snatched a purse from a customer in Walmart and then assaulted her after she chased him into the adjacent woods.
Stephan Norton was arrested Wednesday by Rockland police and charged with Class A robbery.
According to Rockland Police Chief Bruce Boucher, Norton removed a purse from a customer’s shopping cart while in the department store shortly after 10:30 a.m. Norton then went into a bathroom and removed the contents of the purse.
As he was attempting to leave the store, the woman identified Norton and confronted him about the theft, the chief said.
Norton walked out of the store, into the parking lot and then into woods adjacent to Walmart. The woman followed him and grabbed him in an attempt to hold him until Rockland police officers, who had been called, arrived.
Norton shoved the 30-year-old victim and ran farther into the woods, according to the the chief. The woman was not injured, Boucher said.
Norton was apprehended a few hours later in Rockport by the Rockport Police Department. The chief said Norton was on foot and had the items from the purse in his possession.
Rockland police interviewed him at its station and then took him to the Knox County Jail in Rockland. Norton remains at the jail and is scheduled for his initial court appearance in Rockland District Court on Friday.
Camden police also assisted in the case, the chief said.
I wish there was a video. I love Mainers!
This woman is no victim. She refused to allow herself to be one!
And a good reminder, too, to not leave a purse in a shopping cart. It’s easy to forget that it’s not a wise practice, even if we do live in Maine.
I agree. Unfortunately, I see purses left in unattended shopping carts all the time. It only takes one dishonest person to take it.
you go girl!
Should let her put a couple of rocks in her purse and have at him, the courts won’t do much if anything.
I’m surprised a Rockland women could chase down anything thats not a coffee brandy and milk
Troll Alert!
I say lets do an experiment – I think you should come to Rockland, and we’ll gather a group of us Rockland women. Where would you like to meet up?
One who clearly doesn’t have a grasp on grammar should think twice before casting such disparaging remarks.
Is this lady a pharmacist in Pittsfield? Once again, very brave, but very risky.
You go girl!
People are getting fed up with this “here take what ever you want and we’ll try to catch you later”. people are going to start taking the law into their hands even more than ever before.
Close our Maine borders……………….
First off im not from rockland..ty for the support and nice comments.no i refuse to be a victim.he goes to court today.he did confess,however he is pleding not guilty in hopes for bail.the best part being that when you fill out ur report for the police,is that all ur info is on it.