Charges filed in purse-snatching

Formal charges were filed Monday against a man accused of snatching an elderly woman’s purse on Friday afternoon, according to court records.

Jomain Rouser, 36, of Lawrence, was charged with robbery, burglary, theft and criminal damage to property, according to court records.

Lawrence police said Rouser came up behind a 91-year-old woman, who was walking in a parking lot in the 1000 block of West 24th Street, grabbed her purse and ran down an alley.

A neighbor picked up the woman and they drove to Dillons, 1015 W. 23rd St., where they saw a man rummaging through the purse. Police were called and the neighbor began honking his horn at the suspect, who then approached the car, police said. He gave the woman’s personal items to the neighbor and then ran away.

All of the woman’s belongings were recovered and she was not injured, police said.

Rouser had his first appearance in Douglas County District Court on Monday. He is being held in jail on $10,000 bond and is scheduled to return to court today for an appearance in front of Judge Robert Fairchild.