Woman Catches Purse-Snatcher Coming Out Of Home: North Haven PD

NORTH HAVEN, CT — A woman caught a man trying to steal her purse out of her home Saturday night in North Haven, according to police. The woman called 911 at about 8:20 p.m. on April 20 after she confronted a man who was inside her home on Bailey Road. The man was seen walking out of the home with her purse and then dropped it after he was confronted, according to police.

The man ran toward the nearby school playing fields and the woman’s boyfriend ran after him, police said. Police dispatched a K-9 unit to help with the search and the suspect was found hiding in a wooded area, according to police.

The suspect was identified as Johnny Doward, 54, of Wethersfield, who was charged with first-degree burglary and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was held on a $100,000 bond.

Doward also had active arrest warrants out of Branford and Hamden for first-degree robbery, each with a $250,000 bond. Doward was later turned over to the custody of Hamden Police and charged Doward in connection to the armed robbery of the Clarion Hotel last month.