On November 28, 2013 at approximately 2:11 p.m. (Thanksgiving Day), Deputies S. M. Adams and J. M. Burdette were dispatched by Metro 911 to the Kroger store on Big Tyler Road in Cross Lanes, WV. A stolen purse had been reported at that store.
A shopper was on the lot with her groceries still in a shopping cart. As she was loading the groceries into her car a man stole her purse from the cart’s child seat. The suspect, later identified as Richard Jason Palmer (28 years old of Nitro, WV), had fled on foot. The victim alerted a store employee.
The female store employee ran to assist and began chasing Mr. Palmer when she spotted him. Mr. Palmer fled on foot. Two men saw the chase from their vehicle as they were in traffic. They got out of her their vehicle and ran to assist. Mr. Palmer dropped the purse, and the Kroger employee chasing stopped to recover the purse. The two men continued to follow Mr. Palmer until they caught him on the lot of a nearby restaurant where they prevented him from fleeing farther.
Deputy K. M. Gaddy was the first law enforcement officer on scene. He took custody of Mr. Palmer. Kanawha County Emergency Ambulance Authority medics treated Mr. Palmer for minor injuries at the scene.
Inside the victim’s purse was more than $200.00 cash, a wedding band, a smart phone, and several other valuable items, totaling more than $1,000.00. The value of the items made the crime a felony, grand larceny. All of the items were recovered and returned to the victim.
Mr. Palmer was charged with grand larceny. Kanawha County Magistrate Court was closed at the time of his arrest, and he will be arraigned by video at the next opportunity. As is always the case in criminal matters, the charge against Mr. Palmer is merely an accusation. He is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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Corporal B. D. Humphreys
Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office
301 Virginia Street East,
Charleston WV 25301
304-357-0732 / 304-951-7328