Convicted purse snatcher stole teen’s cellphone: cops

A Joliet man convicted of stealing a woman’s purse last year faces new charges alleging he forcibly stole a cellphone from a teen and participated in the attack of that victim, records show.

About 6:30 p.m. on April 26, officers responded to the 400 block of North Raynor Avenue in reference to a report of a robbery, Joliet police said in a news release.

Officers arrived at the scene and determined a 16-year-old male was approached by a group of people in the park adjacent to Farragut Elementary School at 701 Glenwood Ave., police said.

“The group of juveniles chased the victim to the area of the 400 block of North Raynor where they began to batter the victim,” police said.

During the attack, a person stole the victim’s cellphone from his pocket, police said.

Further investigation revealed the person who stole the phone was Amarion Denwiddie, 19, police said.

Police detectives secured a warrant for Denwiddie’s arrest on Tuesday on charges of robbery and mob action. The warrant was signed by Judge Ken Zelazo and carries a $60,000 bond.

On June 13, Denwiddie, along with Joseph Lee Townsend, 49, of Joliet, were arrested and charged with robbing a woman shortly after they sold her a cellphone, Joliet police said.

Denwiddie was also charged with battering the victim while Townsend was charged with stealing the woman’s cash.

On Aug. 5, Denwiddie pleaded guilty to robbery and Townsend pleaded guilty theft more than a month later. Prosecutors dropped all other charges against the two men.

Judge Amy Bertani-Tomczak sentenced Denwiddie to two years probation. She sentenced Townsend to serve 50% of a one-year prison sentence and gave him credit for 108 days already served.

The two men “arranged on Facebook to sell a cellphone” during the June 13 incident, according to the statement of facts.

“When meeting to sell the phone, Denwiddie took her purse and Townsend took her $100,” the statement said.

Denwiddie was charged with reckless conduct when a woman allowed him to drive her vehicle on Nov. 19 but he refused to give it up, Joliet police said.

As a result, the woman jumped on the hood and he caused her to fall off by speeding away, police said. She suffered a minor injuries.