Derek Vauhn's mugshot/Photo Courtesy of Fox 19
While shopping at an Ohio grocery store this past Sunday morning, 87-year-old Pat Goins reportedly had her purse snatched from her cart in what local police confirmed as an attempted robbery. Derek Vauhn, 58, allegedly tried to run off with her cash but was chased by up to 15 people throughout the store’s parking lot.
Deshawn Pressley also gave chase, according to Fox 19, and was able to catch and pin down the suspect.
Goins and the local sheriff later acknowledged the young Black man for his heroic effort.“He ran right past me, and I chased him down,” he revealed to Fox 19. “He got to his car and everything, but I grabbed him, held him to the floor, got him down. Did what I had to do until the police arrived.”
Goins, who says she was finishing up her shopping when the incident occurred, told the outlet about the suspect, “He stole my purse out of the cart,”
adding that she wasn’t touched during the ordeal.After Vauhn was caught, Goins revealed that the crowd told him to apologize to her, which he wasted no time doing. “They told him he better apologize to me. He said he was sorry. He said he was sorry,” she reportedly stated.
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But on whether Goins was willing to accept the apology, she continued, “No, I had a few choice words to say. I feel angry. I feel that he picked me because I was a senior citizen. He could outrun me.”
The Ohio man has since been arrested and now faces robbery and theft charges. No word on when the alleged purse-snatcher will face a judge.