Woman fends off purse snatcher in north Spokane

A woman successfully fought off a purse snatcher Sunday night outside the Winco store on North Nevada Street, and police quickly captured a suspect in the attempted theft.

The victim was walking to her car when a man grabbed her purse, but she was determined not to lose it, said Spokane police Officer Ben Green.

“They ended up fighting over the purse,” he said. “She put up quite a fight.”

The man’s car was moving, but the woman was able to hang on long enough to get her purse back. The car then fled.

After witnesses called 911, a suspect was located near Nevada and Francis Avenue, where he left his car running in a parking lot and tried to escape on foot.

Police arrested Brian D. Evelsizor, 26, and will charge him with attempting to elude police and robbery.