Police Release Identity of Davis Square Purse Snatcher

By George P. Hassett

      Somerville Police have disclosed the name of a man arrested yesterday for stealing a woman’s purse in front of J. P. Lick’s Ice Cream in Davis Square.

        Jonathon Campbell was placed in a police transport van and booked by Lt. John Polito at the police station for stealing Victoria Cho’s purse, said police.

       Before being taken into custody, Campbell insisted another man held by police as a suspect for the same incident be released.

       An unidentified man who minutes earlier had been seen speaking with Campbell was placed in a police vehicle as a possible suspect.  At that moment, Campbell shouted out, "He has noting to do with this you have to let him go," said Officer John Tam in his arrest report.

     The unidentified man claimed he did not know Campbell and was speaking with him because they had a female friend in common, said Tam.

    Campbell walked away from J.P. LIcks Ice Cream and the anonymous man and stole Victoria Cho’s purse. Cho and several pedestrians ran after him and he discarded his shirt, hat and stolen purse.

     An officer was a few short blocks away on the bike path behind the train station and made the arrest, said police.

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