A reported purse snatching that began in a Hermitage parking lot resulted in a pursuit that ended in Sharpsville.


A woman tells police that a man who had asked to use her cell phone outside the Giant Eagle opened the passenger door of her car and grabbed her purse Wednesday afternoon.


The suspect then hopped into a nearby car being driven by a woman and sped away.


A witness was able to obtain the license plate number from the car and police traced it to a Hunter Street address in Sharspville.

A Pennsylvania Water Conservation Officer spotted the vehicle in Sharpsville and attempted to stop it, but the suspects ran into the home on Hunter Street.  

Hermitage police arrived and arrested the couple, who were later identified as Joshua Ryan Cresswell of Sharpsville and Amanda Sue Gutshall of Sharon.

The victim's purse was found discarded on Highland Road.  A wallet and other items were missing from the purse. 

Twenty-eight-year old Cresswell was charged with theft from a motor vehicle, receiving stolen property, fleeing and eluding and driving without a license. 

Gutshall, 26, is charged with theft, conspiracy, receiving stolen property and possessing drug paraphernalia.