Middleburg Man Charged in Bank Robbery, Purse Snatching

Manassas City Police announced Monday the conclusion of a nearly five-week-long investigation into a pair of crimes that led to the identification of Clayton Lee Hill of Middleburg as a suspect in a Dec. 31 purse snatching at a local grocery store.

Hill, 52 (shown in photo), of 22060 Waverly Heights Road in Middleburg, also has been charged in the Jan. 7 robbery of a bank in downtown Manassas, police said. He’s in custody at the Rappahannock Shenandoah Warren Regional Jail in Front Royal following his Jan. 10 arrest by Virginia State Police.

The purse-snatching robbery took place at about 10 p.m. Dec. 31 at Giant Food, 10100 Dumfries Road, according to Manassas police. The victim, a 48-year-old Manassas woman, told officers that an unknown male stole her purse containing her smart phone, wallet and other personal items from her shopping cart and ran towards the store exit.

A store employee chased the suspect. When he was within 2 to 3 feet of him, the suspect turned around and displayed a handgun in his waistband before fleeing, police said.

More news:

• Police: Manassas Park Man Shattered Doors at Convenience Store
• Police Arrest Dumfries Man After Disturbance at Restaurant
• Army Official From Manassas Faces Federal Bribery Charges

The Jan. 7 robbery occurred at the BB&T Bank, 9201 Church St. A male suspect entered the bank and demanded money. A weapon was not displayed, Manassas police said, but it was implied. The teller complied, and the suspect fled on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash.

On Jan. 9, law enforcement investigators identified Hill as a suspect in the bank robbery, Manassas police said. With the assistance of the town of Woodstock Police Department, the Shenandoah County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI and the U.S. Marshals Service, Hill was arrested by the Virginia State Police in Woodstock shortly before 9 a.m. Jan. 10 after a short pursuit.

Hill was charged with robbery and is awaiting transport back to Prince William County, where he has a pending court date of Feb. 19 in General District Court.

Image: Manassas City Police.