Police: Bystanders jump into action after purse-snatching in Friendswood

FRIENDSWOOD, TX (KTRK) -- Two men are in custody after police say they tried to rob a woman in the parking lot of a Friendswood grocery story on Tuesday.

The 72-year-old victim tells police she was in the parking lot of the H-E-B on West Parkland Avenue a little before 3pm when she says someone, later identified as Ray Patterson, Jr., 33, snatched her purse and started running away.

The woman screamed for help and got it. Police say a customer and two store employees ran after Patterson, who jumped into the passenger side of a black Ford car and threw the purse in the vehicle.

The customer who was in pursuit was able to grab Patterson and hold him until police arrived.

The driver of the vehicle, who would later be identified as Emmanuel Bernard Harris, 24, was able to get away, but not before reportedly injuring a woman who tried to lean into the vehicle to grab the purse. She was hit by the passenger door as Harris sped off.

Witnesses were able to give police a good description and license plate of the getaway car. Investigators tracked it to an apartment complex along the Gulf Freeway. That's where they arrested Harris without incident.

Police say aside from the suspected robbery, Harris had two outstanding warrants - one in Harris County for probation violation and another from Galveston County for contempt of court for child support. His bond was set at $80,000.

Patterson was charged with aggravated robbery. His bond was set at $40,000.