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Police: Man admits purse thefts

Jackson police on Saturday said a man held overnight in connection with several purse snatchings has confessed to the crimes, according to a press release.The release said Danny Wayne Springfield, 39, of Brenda Lane, “has admitted to four purse snatching/robbery incidents Friday afternoon (and) evening.”

He is being held in the Madison County Jail without bond pending formal arraignment Monday in City Court.

Springfield was arrested about 8 p.m. Friday at 336 S. Highland Ave. after a string of purse snatchings, including some where the assailant grabbed purses as he drove by the victims, the release said.In the first incident, a 79-year-old woman was in the checkout line at Marketplace at 1725 S. Highland Ave. about 2 p.m. when a man forcibly took her purse from her. The man was observed getting into a bluish-green Pontiac and fleeing the scene, the release said.

At 5:10 p.m., a 55-year-old woman was leaving Highland Park Grocery at 1403 N. Highland Ave. when a man pulled out of a nearby parking space, reached out of his vehicle and grabbed her purse as he went by. The woman was pulled to the ground and dragged a short distance. Police said the woman was treated at a local hospital for her injuries.

Police said that 30 minutes later, a 56-year-old woman was in the parking lot of Oak Hill Shopping Center at 103 Old Hickory Blvd. when someone drove by and attempted to snatch her purse, pulling her to the ground. The assailant was unsuccessful in getting the purse, but police said the woman’s arm was fractured.

At 7:55 p.m., police said a purse snatcher drove by a 64-year-old woman at the front entrance of Jackson General, reached out, snatched her purse and drove away. The woman was not injured.

Police located Springfield shortly after the last attack. Police said he attributed his crime spree to narcotics.

The three stolen purses were recovered. Authorities said Springfield also has an active capias in City Court for failure to appear on a simple domestic assault case.

The 56-year-old was also dragged a few feet by the car. The car also stopped for this stupid criminal to get a look at his victim before speeding off. The “fractured arm” is actually a fractured wrist and hand, which required 4 pins not unlike the ones I got 4 years ago, though I only got three. The speculation in my home is that the perp went to the hospital to make sure no one died, then decided to snatch another purse while he was there. He was caught about 5 minutes after the hospital incident. I’m sure that our theory is false, but I like the theory.

The 56-year-old, by the way, is my mom (also sometimes known here in comments as “The MIMI!” or YOUR MAMA, or other variations thereof). She had the surgery to put the pins in yesterday. She’s home and doing well. She only intends to take a week off, though I’m trying to convince her to take two. She’s also hoping to make it to court on Monday to see the arraignment. I don’t know how wise that is, but she’s going to consult a few more people today before going tomorrow.

I am very proud of her for being the only one to actually keep her purse, but she’ll just attribute it to sheer luck.

[late edit] The Oak Hill shopping center isn’t too near my parents’ home, but that’s where Mom was when she got injured.  The Highland Park Grocery is about a block from Mom’s house, and she was at the hospital getting treated when the purse-snatching at the hospital happened.