78-year-old Woman Fights Off Purse Snatcher

An attempted purse snatching at Graul’s Market in Broadneck was foiled Tuesday morning when the 78-year-old victim refused to give up her bag.

According to police, Bowie resident Jamie Marie Reio, 35, tried to grab the elderly woman’s purse while she was standing in the checkout line at around 10 a.m..  After a brief struggle, Reio abandoned her efforts—and the purse—and fled on foot out of the store.

Two Grual’s employee chased Reio down, caught her in the parking lot, and brought her back into the store, police said. An off duty Anne Arundel County police officer then took the suspect into custody.

A witness told police that Rio had arrived at Graul’s in a white van that had sped off south on Cape St. Claire Blvd.

A Maryland Transportation Authority officer saw the van speed away and gave chase, eventually stopping the van at Rt. 50 and St. Margaret’s Road.

The witness was able to identify the man in the van, Russell Leo Richards of Lusby, as the second suspect.

Both Reio and Richards, 37, were taken into police custody and have been charged with attempted robbery, robbery, theft and second degree assault.