LEWISTON — Lewiston police have charged two suspects in connection with a purse snatching in downtown late Wednesday.

According to Lt. Mark Cornelio of the Lewiston Police Department, officers were called to Jefferson and Pine streets for a report of a robbery at 10:50 p.m. Wednesday. The victim of the robbery, Annette Gammon of Lewiston, reported that she had been walking up Pine Street when a man reached out and grabbed her purse.

Gammon told police she resisted the robbery attempt, but had to let go of her purse and fell to the ground as the suspect ran away. She sustained minor injuries.

On Thursday morning, Detectives Trevor Campbell and Roland Godbout identified a possible suspect and arrested Duane Thomas, 21, of Mechanic Falls at a local pawnshop, where police said he was attempting to sell a camera stolen in the robbery.

Michael Rias, 18, of Lewiston, was later arrested and charged with robbery, a Class A crime. Thomas was charged with theft by receiving stolen property, a Class E crime.

Rias and Thomas are both being held at Androscoggin County Jail; $500 cash bail was set for Thomas, $2,000 cash bail for Rias.


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