Canton Police Arrest Alleged Purse Snatchers

CANTON, GA -- Investigators with the Canton Police Department have tracked down the suspects accused of robbing shoppers in the Riverstone Parkway and Marietta Highway area of the community.

Jasper residents Wendy Hasty Cantrell, 51, Elizabeth Santiago, 32, and Jose Santiago, 36, have all been arrested on connection to the incidents, which were reported earlier this month.

According to police, five of the incidents involved thefts while the other was classified as robbery by snatch of purses from victims patronizing several businesses along the thoroughfares.

Victims told police a man and woman in a silver Dodge Durango or Avenger were believed "to be the persons responsible for these crimes," Canton police said in a press release.

Around 1:50 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 25, Canton officers observed a silver Dodge Avenger with two occupants who matched the descriptions -- a white female and Hispanic male -- given by the victims.

Patrol units conducted a traffic stop near the Canton Dental office at 230 Riverstone Parkway. Following the stop, officers took the pair in for questioning.

Detectives interviewed Cantrell, and later charged her with one count of theft by taking. Information obtained during the investigation led detectives to two additional suspects.

Those suspects were also believed to be behind a similar incident in Jasper, so Canton detectives worked closely with their police counterparts in the Pickens County seat to arrest the two suspects.

The Santiagos were booked into the Pickens County Jail on Wednesday, Sept. 28, and are charged with five counts of theft by taking and robbery.

"This was truly a team effort," said Canton Police Chief Mark Mitchell. "I commend our hard working officers for their keen and alert observation and our detectives for their diligence and thorough follow-up which all played a key role in the arrest of these individuals, which helps bring a resolution to these incidents and greatly improves the quality of life for citizens in our community."

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Photo: Wendy Cantrell. Credit: Cherokee Sheriff's Office