Charleroi police receive assist from local citizen

A Rostraver Township man helped police apprehended an alleged purse-snatcher this week, chasing the suspect in his vehicle from Charleroi into North Charleroi.

Jody Grable witnessed a young woman allegedly steal a purse from an elderly woman at a bus stop in the downtown section of Charleroi, according to police.

The suspect then got into a red Neon and fled the scene.

Grable said he had just dropped his son off at a pre-school in Charleroi when he witnessed the incident.

'I was crossing the tracks when I heard the woman scream,' said Grable. 'I told her Ôjust sit down, I'll catch them'.'

Grable chased the car up Craven Hill. The suspect's vehicle had pulled over to the side of the road at Craven Hill when North Charleroi Police Sgt. Wade Charlton appre-hended the two people in the car, police reported.

Police reported they found an alleged crack pipe in Williams' possession.

Tracey Williams, who allegedly took the purse, was charged with robbery, possession of drug paraphernalia and receiving stolen property. Williams was remanded to the Washington County Jail in lieu of $7,500 straight cash bond.

Shawn Tirpak, the driver of the Neon, was charged with criminal conspiracy to commit robbery. Tirpak was remanded to the Washington County Jail in lieu of $5,000 bond.

'I felt sorry for the lady,' said Grable. 'I would have done that for anyone. That's just how I am.

'I want to help people rather than turn my back on someone like the 75 percent of people would do.'