Photo: NYPD
A New York City police officer on horseback chased down and captured a suspected purse snatcher in Manhattan late Wednesday morning (April 15), creating a dramatic scene that was caught on both bodycam footage and by a nearby television news crew. The pursuit began after a woman reported her purse had been stolen near a busy city street.
The mounted officer and his horse quickly responded, pursuing the suspect as she ran between parked cars, along sidewalks, and under scaffolding. Throughout the chase, the officer repeatedly ordered the suspect to stop, but she refused and denied taking the purse.
The chase ended when a pedestrian intervened, stopping the suspect long enough for the officer to dismount and place her in handcuffs. The woman was charged with larceny and providing false information.
Authorities confirmed that the purse was recovered after the arrest. They also revealed that the suspect had previously been convicted of murder for the April 2000 fatal shooting of a cab driver, serving time in prison before being released. She is currently on lifetime parole.
The officer, the officer's horse, and the victim were unharmed during the chase.