Joel Prosic appeared in court today for a purse snatching incident that occurred Monday afternoon. He was identified yesterday evening after security videos from the offence were reviewed and an officer recognized him from a previous interaction involving a similar incident.

On Monday, July 15, 2019, shortly after 3:00 p.m., while walking through Jackson Square near the Sheraton Hotel, the victim, a 70-year-old Hamilton woman was approached from the rear by an unknown male. The male grabbed the victim’s purse and fled running in a westerly direction towards Bay Street. Police quickly responded and checked the area but did not locate the male.

Through investigation, police were able to obtain security video which captured the incident.

After reviewing the videos and obtaining a complete description of the suspect a secondary search of the area was conducted but met with negative results.

On Tuesday, July 16, 2019, at approximately 6:00 p.m., the videos were reviewed by a Custody Intake Officer who recognized the suspect as a male who had been in police custody the previous night for the same offence. That incident involved witnesses catching the suspect after he was seen snatching of a woman’s purse while she played bingo. He was arrested and attended a bail hearing earlier in the day for that offence and was subsequently released with court-imposed conditions.

With the suspect’s identity now known, efforts were directed towards his apprehension. Shortly after 11:00 p.m., the male was located at a residence in the area of West Avenue North and Robert Street. He was arrested without incident and taken into police custody and held for a bail hearing.

On Wednesday, July 17, 2019, Joel Prosic 33-years-of-age from Hamilton appeared in court to answer to several criminal charges. He is scheduled to appear in court again on Thursday, August 4, 2019.

CHARGED

• Joel Prosic, 33-years-of-age from Hamilton

CHARGES

• Theft under $5000
• Possession of stolen property under $5000

If you have any information that you believe could assist Police with the investigation into this crime you are asked to contact The Central Station Staff Sergeant’s Office by calling 905-546-4725.

To provide information anonymously call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or submit your anonymous tips online at http://www.crimestoppershamilton.com