87-year-old woman robbed at Butler County Kroger, witness catches suspect

LEMON TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WXIX) - A witness stopped a suspect trying to rob an 87-year-old woman at a Butler County grocery store Sunday morning.

According to Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones, the robbery happened around 11 a.m. at the Kroger on Old Oxford State Road in Lemon Township.

Jones said that 58-year-old Derek Vauhn of Middletown attempted to take 87-year-old Pat Goins’ purse.

Goins said she was walking down an aisle to pick up one last thing when Vauhn suddenly approached her.

“He stole my purse out of the cart,” Goins explained.

Goins said there must have been 10 or 15 people who ran after Vauhn into the parking lot. One of those who chased after the alleged purse thief was Deshawn Pressley.

“And he [Vauhn] ran right past me and I chased him down,” Pressley explained. “He got to his car and everything, but I grabbed him, held him to the floor, got him down. Did what I had to do until the police arrived.”

Goins said Vauhn never touched her, and he just wanted the $60 she had in her purse.

The crowd made sure he apologized to the 87-year-old.

“They [the crowd] told him he better apologize to me. He said he was sorry, he said he was sorry,” Goins said.

Vauhn was arrested and charged with robbery and theft.

The sheriff stated his appreciation for Pressley and the civilians who stepped up and intervened.

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