Man arrested in Gainesville purse snatchings

GAINESVILLE - Investigators say they have arrested a 30-year-old Gainesville man in connection with a recent string of purse snatchings in the city.

Gainesville police said John Albert Glean is charged with armed robbery, battery, aggravated assault and robbery by sudden snatching in connection with two purse thefts on Shallowford Road and Limestone Parkway.

Gainesville Police Cpl. Kevin Holbrook said a total of six purse thefts occurred in the city in January. He said it is unknown at this point if Glean is responsible for the other four cases.

Holbrook noted that there has been no pattern in the purse thefts. They occurred on random days at random times in six different locations.

He said in all of the cases but one, the female victims were not hurt. He said in the Shallowford Road incident, the woman whose purse was stolen did receive minor injuries during the course of the theft.