SALISBURY — Authorities said a 19-year-old dropped a medical document that led officers to his door following a purse snatching incident Wednesday.
Salisbury Police took Dionte Dmarius Reddick, of Barringer Road, into custody after a 76-year-old woman showed officers a piece of paper the man dropped during the thievery, reports said.
Sarah Hawkins was sitting in the parking lot of a beauty salon at 1116 N. Long St. about 9:30 a.m., authorities said. She was waiting for her stylist. But Reddick pulled into the lot and approached the passenger side of Hawkins’ car, asking her for directions to city hall, the report said.
Hawkins told authorities she was giving the man directions when he reached into the car and grabbed her purse before fleeing to a small gray car. She caught the last few digits of the suspect’s tag number.
Hawkins reported the larceny, but later returned to the station with the piece of paper she believed the man had been carrying. Authorities said they ran the name on the document, which led them Reddick’s home, where his mother’s vehicle — with a license plate number similar to the one provided to officers — was parked.
Police said they asked for the man listed on the paper and the named suspect later arrived at the police department, adamant about his innocence.
Reddick then contacted authorities and admitted to the larceny. The 19-year-old said his brother had no connection to the crime.
Reddick was released from Rowan County jail after paying a $1,500 bond.