Suspect ID’d from video

STAFF REPORT

WARREN — A 24-year-old Warren man pleaded innocent to a felony charge of robbery after a local television viewer identified him from the broadcast of a crime captured on a Giant Eagle store surveillance video.

Jonathon Whetstone, of 231 Genesee Avenue N.E., was arrested Monday at an address on Homewood Avenue Southeast after a local television station broadcast a video of a man taken Oct. 18 at the Elm Road Giant Eagle.

Jeff Hoolihan, Warren Police detective, said the video showed a man inside the store watching a 59-year-old Warren woman as she was shopping.

As the woman walked to her car, the man came up from behind, snatching her purse off her shoulder and knocking her to the ground, Hoolihan said.

The woman, who was not injured, fell to the ground while fighting to keep her purse, Hoolihan said, adding that two store employees also came to the woman’s aid.

A television viewer gave police the name of the suspect about an hour after the video was broadcast last Wednesday, Hoolihan said. Police were then able to give the victim and other witnesses a photo of Whetstone, and they identified him, Hoolihan said.

Judge Thomas Gysegem set bond at $25,000 for Whetstone, whose next hearing is set for 2:15 p.m. Nov. 13 before Judge Gysegem.

If convicted of the charge, Whetstone could get two to eight years in prison.

Hoolihan noted that shoppers need to be especially careful this time of year because criminals know that they tend to carry more cash with them during the holiday shopping season.