PORT ANGELES — Clallam County Sheriff’s deputies are continuing to look today for a 25-year-old Port Angeles man they say stole a purse from a woman in the east Port Angeles Walmart parking.
Michael T. Riley is wanted for investigation of first-degree robbery after reportedly snatching a purse from a woman’s shopping cart at about 8 p.m. Wednesday and running to a nearby vehicle, said Clallam County Detective Sgt. John Keegan.
The woman chased after him and grabbed a hold of the steering wheel of the vehicle he got into before he began to drive away.
“That caused her some injury, but not serious,” Keegan said. “That elevated the crime to robbery.”
Riley stands 5 feet, 9 inches tall and has a thin build, brown hair and brown eyes.
Detectives identified the man as Riley allegedly tried to use a check stole from the woman’s purse at a store where the clerk recognized him, Keegan said.
Deputies also found the vehicle Riley allegedly used to flee the Walmart and traced it back to him, Keegan added.
Anyone who sees Riley is asked to call 9-1-1 and not approach him, Keegan said.
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Reporter Jeremy Schwartz can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5074, or at jschwartz@peninsuladailynews.com.