Man charged with robbery

A 28-year-old Key West man was arrested Thursday morning after he tried to snatch a woman’s wallet from her purse while she was shopping at a Marathon store.

Ryan James Whalen was charged with battery and robbery by sudden snatching without a firearm or weapon.

There were no reported serious injuries.

Multiple Deputies were called to the Bealls Outlet® store, 10950 Overseas Highway, where they found a 63-year-old Homestead woman who was very shaken. The victim stated she was shopping in the juvenile department when she felt someone open her purse. As she turned around, the suspect — later identified as Whalen — grabbed her billfold out of her purse. She went to grab his arm, whereupon he placed both hands on her chest and shoved her before taking flight on foot.

The woman and her friend followed the suspect as he ran out of the store toward the nearby Circle K® convenience store. The woman gave Deputy Darrel Walraven a description of the suspect.

Lt. Charlene Sprinkle found Whalen at the Circle K®.

The victim and her friend identified Whalen as the man who stole her wallet.

Security video footage at the Circle K® showed Whalen threw something in the shelving inside whereupon Deputies found some currency, which had been in the victim’s wallet. Security video footage at Bealls Outlet® store confirmed he was in the store.

Whalen was taken to jail.

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