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Purse-snatching suspect injures victim, himself while cutting purse strap

Posted at 1:05 PM, Jul 06, 2018
and last updated 2018-07-06 16:48:49-04

An Akron man was arrested Thursday afternoon for allegedly injuring a woman with a knife during a robbery by cutting a purse of off her shoulder.

Keith L. Watkins, 53, of Boulevard Street, was charged with aggravated robbery, according to court records.

The robbery happened on the 700 block of South Main Street just before 2 p.m. The victim had just left a nearby store and was getting in her car when a man approached her and said: "Give me your purse and you won't get hurt." 

Watkins, who was armed with a knife, grabbed the woman's purse, cut the strap and ran off with it, police said. A store security guard who heard the victim screaming gave chase and captured the man, then called authorities.

The woman was treated on scene by EMS for a puncture wound to her arm. Watkins also cut himself during the incident, police said.

The security guard recovered her purse and gave it back to her.

Watkins is scheduled to appear in court on July 9.