Update: Carl M. Babb was released from Holmes Correctional Institute in Bonifay on Wednesday morning, just hours before police say he stole a woman’s purse at 111 E University Ave.
His previous offense? Battery and purse snatching in September 2009, GPD spokeswoman Angelina Valuri said. The location? 111 E University Ave.
A chase involving 2-foot-long incense sticks, a purse and a running tackle ended Wednesday with one man in jail and another with a sore face.
Carl M. Babb, 50, was arrested after police said he snatched a woman’s purse from the Lunchbox restaurant downtown at about 8:50 p.m.
Felipe Echeverri, 33, said he saw Babb take the purse and ran after him.
“He looked like a guy you see in prison movies,” Echeverri said. “I would have never messed with him if I had actually thought about it.”
A few seconds into the chase, Babb turned around and punched Echeverri between the eyes, leaving a visible mark.
Echeverri said he felt groggy but continued to chase Babb when Babb threw a handful of lit 2-foot-long sticks of incense backward at him. About 100 feet farther, Babb threw the woman’s purse.
Echeverri tackled Babb and pinned him to the ground. He said he tried to reach for his cellphone when a crowd that had gathered began to yell, “He’s reaching for his pocket!”
Sensing that the crowd thought he had bad intentions, Echeverri tried to explain that Babb stole a woman’s purse, punched him in the face and needed to be held until police arrived.
While most of the crowd bought the story, Echeverri said about three others got in between him and Babb, allowing Babb to run away.
Police caught up with him at the corner of Northeast First Street and Northeast Fourth Avenue.
Babb was arrested for robbery by sudden snatching and battery.
Although his head hurt, Echeverri said he considered himself lucky.
“He could have just as easily done something much worse,” he said.
Contact Shelby Webb at swebb@alligator.org.
Carl M. Babb, 50, was arrested after police said he snatched a woman’s purse from the Lunchbox restaurant downtown at about 8:50 p.m.
