Fairlawn Police Blotter: A Purse snatching in Traffic and More

Domestic Violence -- A person waiting for a bus in Fairlawn, and a Metro Regional Transit driver told police they saw a man pull up behind a car at 8:05 p.m. Aug. 18 at the intersection of Ghent Road and West Market Street. The man reportedly opened the driver's door of the vehicle, reached over the woman and pulled her purse and apron from the car. Witnesses told police the man struck the woman in the side of the head with the purse during the struggle.

The woman then left her car, ran to the man's vehicle and tried to grab back her property through the passenger's window. When she reached into the car, the man rolled up the windows, trapping her by the arms. Witnesses said the alleged robber drove a short distance backward, but ultimately released the window and freed the woman.

The incident was captured on the bus surveillance camera.

Police subsequently spoke to the victim, who had locked herself in her car at the  She identified her alleged assailant as her husband.  

Police arrested the man at a home on the 2500 block of Chamberlin Road.

The husband told police he was trying retrieve his passport, which he believed his wife was keeping from him in her purse.

Police said the woman had no apparent injuries.

The man was charged with misdemeanor assault and taken to the Summit County Jail.

Theft, receiving stolen property -- A woman’s car was stolen at 11 p.m. Aug. 15 from the   Parking lot. Mary Fate, 58, of Akron told police she left her keys in a blue bag in a cart outside the ladies fitting room. When she came out, the keys were missing. A Walmart employee told police he saw a black male near the fitting room area. The same man is seen on store video driving Fate’s 1966 Jeep Cherokee out of the parking lot with an unidentified woman.

The vehicle was later located in the Walmart parking lot. Judy Pelfrey, 66, of Akron was charged with receiving stolen property.

Theft -- A woman reported that her wallet was stolen in the produce section at Tuesday 8/9 at about 4:45

Stephanie Newton, 23, of Akron, told police she walked away from her shopping cart to get a plastic bag for produce. When she returned to the cart she noticed her wallet was gone.

 For questions about this blotter, email kymberli.hagelberg@patch.com.