OTTAWA - The Ottawa Police Service Robbery Unit has laid a charge in a purse snatching from 2004.
On August 31, 2004, at approximately 10:00 pm, a mother and daughter were walking near Lawson Avenue/Prince Albert Street when a male suspect came up behind the mother, knocked her to the ground, and attempted to take her purse. The victim held on to retain the purse and was dragged across the roadway. The suspect then gestured that he would assault the victim and made a demand to let go of the purse. The victim relinquished hold of it and the suspect fled.
There were no injuries. Items of evidentiary value were recovered in the area at the time and a DNA profile was obtained for the suspect. More recently, a match was made between this file and a suspect.
Robert Lanthier, now aged 31, of Ottawa, has been charged with a single count of robbery. Mr. Lanthier was in custody on another matter and remains in custody.
Anyone with information with respect to this robbery, or any other robbery, is asked to contact the Robbery Unit at 613-236-1222 ext. 5116 or Crime Stoppers at 613-233-8477 (TIPS) or toll free at 1-800-222-8477.
