By MATT THACKER
Matt.Thacker@newsandtribune.com
JEFFERSONVILLE —
A Jeffersonville teenager was charged Friday with a strong-arm robbery in Clarksville. He already was facing fraud charges for allegedly using stolen credit and debit cards.
According to a Clarksville Police Department report, 18-year-old Dexter E. Cole was involved in a purse-snatching Sunday outside the Kroger on Lewis and Clark Parkway. Cole was arrested a short time later by an off-duty Jeffersonville Police Department officer at the McDonald’s on 10th Street at Allison Lane. The victim identified Cole as the person who took her purse.
The woman was loading groceries into the trunk of her car when she was approached by a man in an all-white jumpsuit. He grabbed her purse and dragged her, causing a laceration to her knee. Her pants also were shredded.
Cole apologized repeatedly and told the arresting officer he was very sorry for hurting the woman, according to the report.
According to court records, Cole used another woman’s stolen bank and credit cards Dec. 14 at CVS, White Castle, Thorntons and Circle K. Cole was charged Jan. 13 with class D felony receiving stolen property and four counts of class D felony fraud.
He appeared in Clark County Circuit Court No. 3 on Wednesday and was released on bond and ordered to obey his mother’s orders. However, he was back in court Friday with the state charging him with class B felony robbery resulting in injury. He is being held on $25,000 cash bond. Trial is set for June 5.
The Clark County Prosecutor’s Office is cracking down on purse-snatchings. Robberies are charged as class C felony unless a weapon is used or the victim is injured. However, Clark County Chief Deputy Prosecutor Jeremy Mull said he is charging strong-arm robberies as class B felony robbery whenever force is used.
The difference is six to 20 years in prison compared to two to eight years. Mull said there has been an increase in purse-snatchings recently, and many of the victims are sustaining serious injuries. He has five such cases pending.
