Boardman purse-snatcher caught

BOARDMAN — Police arrested a 26-year-old Glenridge Road man on robbery and assault charges after a woman reported her purse snatched.

The woman, 35, told police she was at the Southern Park Mall about 11:45 a.m. Wednesday, sitting at a table in the food court with her son. A man grabbed her purse and fled into the parking lot and a witness followed, seeing the purse snatcher get into a car.

The witness jumped onto the hood of the car, trying to stop it, but he fell off as the car drove off.

Another witness obtained the license plate from the car.

Police stopped a car that matched the description traveling on Glenwood Avenue in Youngstown.

Kenneth A. Wanamaker III, 26, of Glenridge Road, the driver, confessed the crime, a police report said.

The victim’s son also identified Wanamaker as the man who took the purse. He was charged with felony robbery and misdemeanor assault and lodged in the Mahoning County Jail.

Police found the purse in a trash bin behind the West Boulevard Club apartment complex. Cash and a checkbook that had been in the purse weren’t located.

Police found two beach bags inside of the same trash bin, on top of the purse.