PORT ANGELES — A man wanted after he allegedly stole a woman’s purse in the Port Angeles Walmart parking lot on Wednesday has surrendered to authorities.
The man fled in a pickup after the 30-year-old woman chased him to the truck and tried to slam his arm in its door, then tried to hang on to the truck’s steering wheel, Clallam County Sheriff’s Detective Sgt. John Keegan said.
Michael Thomas Riley, 25, of Port Angeles was in the Clallam County jail this morning (Saturday) with no bond yet set after being booked Friday evening.
Keegan said deputies spoke with members of Riley’s family and ultimately convinced him to turn himself in at the county courthouse at about 6:30 p.m. Friday.
“He was taken into custody without incident,” Keegan said.
Riley was booked for investigation of one count each of first-degree robbery and forgery and on an outstanding arrest warrant.
Sheriff’s deputies started looking for Riley after he allegedly snatched the purse from the woman’s shopping cart at about 8 p.m. Wednesday in the east Port Angeles Walmart parking lot.
The woman who tried to stop him was left with cuts and bruises, Keegan said. She was not identified.
Keegan said detectives identified the thief as Riley after he tried to use a check stolen from the woman’s purse at a store where the clerk recognized him.
Deputies also found the pickup Riley used to flee from Walmart, Keegan added.
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Reporter Jeremy Schwartz can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5074, or at jschwartz@peninsuladailynews.com.
