Local

Purse snatcher in Ocala hits witnesses who were helping victim

OCALA, Fla. — A good Samaritan is being credited for trying to stop a thief who was seen on surveillance video snatching an elderly woman’s purse in a Walmart parking lot.

It happened at the store on South Highway 200 in Ocala on Saturday.

The suspect nearly ran down two people as she tried to speed away, deputies said.

Antonette Florido snatched a 79-year-old woman’s purse and then smashed into numerous bystanders who were trying to stop her in her tracks, according to deputies.

In the video, Florido is seen walking toward the victim, grabbing her purse and running away, deputies said.

Witness Lori Burns was getting out of her car when she heard the commotion and the victim’s screams for help.

“I can see this little lady running and she is hollering, ‘Help’ and she’s hollering, ‘My purse,'” said Burns.

Burns and her daughter’s boyfriend sprang into action and ran after Florido, who was getting into a car.

Burns told deputie that as she tried to get Florido out of the car, but Florido drove off, hitting the man who was helping Burns.

“With the door open, she put it in reverse and flew back as far as she could, hit Cole with the side of the door, and the side of the door knocked me down,” Burns said.

Deputies said other witnesses were hit as the suspect was trying to get away.

Burns, who was knocked to the ground, ran back to the car and got the license plate number before calling deputies.

Deputies said they tracked down Florido and got the victim’s purse back.