At the Lake: Cops nab suspected purse snatcher

South Lake Tahoe police nabbed a suspected purse snatcher after two separate incidents on Ski Run Boulevard on Saturday evening.

Loyal Leavenworth, 21, was booked into the El Dorado County Jail on suspicion of robbery and attempted robbery, as well as misdemeanor counts of possession of a switchblade and exhibiting a deadly weapon.

At about 7:10 p.m. Saturday, police received a report of a man grabbing the purse of a woman leaving Scusa on Ski Run restaurant.

The woman, who was with two other people, struggled with the man and was able to keep hold of her purse, even as the suspect threatened her with a switchblade knife, according to police Sgt. Jeff Reagan.

The woman returned to the restaurant and called police.

About 15 minutes later, police received a second report of a purse-snatching attempt on Ski Run Boulevard.

A man allegedly approached a woman from behind, asked her a question, then grabbed her purse and took off running. The woman ran after the man until he turned around and threatened her with a crowbar, Reagan said.

Police checked the area where the purse snatcher reportedly was last seen and were able to locate the suspect hiding in a vehicle outside of Bart's Tahoe Apartments.