HENRICO COUNTY, Va. -- Henrico Police arrested a man who they said asked to help an elderly woman with her groceries before stealing her purse in a violent strong-armed robbery.
"On October 13, 2020, just after 3 p.m., the suspect was identified in the 6000 block of Staples Mill Road, operating a 2000 Honda Civic," a Henrico Police spokesperson wrote in an email. "The driver, 29-year-old Eric Christopher Lewis, was identified from surveillance footage from the October 11 incident. Mr. Eric Lewis has been charged with robbery and malicious wounding and is held without bond."
It was Lewis, police said, who approached the woman as she exited a grocery store in the 6200 block of West Broad Street on October 11 at 2:20 p.m.
He asked her if she needed help with her groceries, according to police.
Police said he helped load groceries into her car and then attempted to steal her purse.
"The victim was pulled to the ground and drug approximately 10 feet; her purse was then stolen," said a Henrico Police spokesperson.
The woman was transported to the hospital with serious, but non-life-threatening injuries.
Anyone with information was asked to call Detective K. Johnson at 804-501-5000 or Crime Stoppers at 804-780-1000.
