ENGLEWOOD, Fla. - A Charlotte County Sheriff’s K-9 unit tracked an alleged purse snatching suspect Tuesday night to his front door resulting in the arrest of Jacob Lee Stockton, 21, of Englewood.

At 6:55 p.m. deputies responded to a call from a woman who reported a man grabbed her purse from her shopping cart as she exited the CVS Pharmacy at 1760 S. McCall Rd. She said she saw two men wearing hooded sweatshirts sitting on the bench when she went into the store. When she exited, the two men stood up and approached her. She put her hand on the purse in the cart and the man in the grey sweatshirt struggled with her then he got control of the purse. During the struggle, the suspect dropped his cell phone. The suspect fled toward Pine St. with the other man who was wearing a red sweatshirt.

A CCSO K-9 unit was called to the scene and trailed the scent for a couple blocks, right to the front door where Stockton lived.

According to the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office, Stockton answered the door wearing a grey sweatshirt and allowed deputies and detectives to search the home. A marijuana pipe with residue was found in the home, but no purse.

Detectives checked and learned that the cell phone dropped by the suspect belonged to Stockton. According to detectives, Stockton said it was stolen a few days ago but changed his story multiple times regarding the date and time he lost his cell phone.

Stockton was arrested for Robbery by Sudden Snatching and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

CCSO detectives are asking the public for any additional information to help identify additional suspects that may have been involved in the purse snatching incident. If anyone saw something suspicious or noteworthy at the CVS at 1760 S. McCall Rd, Englewood, Tuesday night between the hours of 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., please contact Detective Bettina Korte-Alex at 941-258-3957 or Cpl. Don Ulrich at 941-475-9005.

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Information from the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office