***Update as of June 15, 2017*** 

Suspect Arrested In Robbery by Sudden Snatching

Who:

Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
Investigative Operations Bureau
- Robbery/Homicide Unit
- Burglary/ Pawn Unit
- Tactical Surveillance Unit

Adam C Garris (Arrested)
DOB: 05/27/1988
Address: Transient
Charges: Robbery by Sudden Snatching

At about 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, June 15, 2017, detectives arrested 29-year-old Adam Garris for the robbery by sudden snatching of cash from the victim, 81-year-old Donald Hardman. 

Through various investigative techniques and through the help of an anonymous crime stoppers tip, detectives were able to identify and locate the suspect, Adam Garris, who was staying in the Palm Harbor area.

Garris was interviewed for this particular incident by detectives at the Sheriff’s North District Station and provided detectives a complete confession to the crime.

Garris was transported to the Pinellas County Jail without incident. He was charged with one count of robbery by sudden snatching. Garris was also charged with several unrelated felony charges and warrants: Possession of methamphetamine, possession of controlled substance and possession of credit/ debit card, one count of burglary to a conveyance, one count grand theft, uttering forged bills/checks drafts, failure to appear in a grand theft, failure to appear in a larceny of debit or credit card. Additional charges are pending.

***End of Update***

***Original News Release***

17-119 Detectives Seek To Identify Robbery By Sudden Snatching Suspect: Who Victimized Elderly Man Edit

Attempt to Identify

Who:
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
Investigative Operations Bureau
-Robbery/Homicide Unit

What:
Detectives assigned to the Robbery/Homicide Unit are seeking the public’s assistance in locating a Robbery suspect who victimized an elderly Largo man by sudden snatching.

When:                
The robbery occurred at approximately 2:40 p.m. on Monday, May 22, 2017.

Where:
The robbery occurred at the Optical Outlet located at 3665 East Bay Drive,  in unincorporated Largo.

How/Why:
Detectives assigned to the Robbery/Homicide Unit are seeking the public’s assistance in locating a Robbery suspect who victimized an elderly Largo man by sudden snatching.

According to detectives, the victim an 81-year-old man entered the Optical Outlet located at 3665 East Bay Drive with his wife for an appointment. After waiting a short time the victim left the Optical Outlet walked across the street to the Sun Trust Bank. The victim made a cash withdrawal and placed an envelope containing the cash in his front left shirt pocket. The victim then returned to the Optical Outlet and entered the store a second time.

While the victim was sitting in the lobby waiting for his wife to finish her appointment, a white male approximately early twenties enters the store and sits nearby the victim. At some point, the white male snatches the envelope containing the cash from the front left shirt pocket of the victim and flees on foot. The male is described as early twenties, 6’ tall, 170 pounds, thin build, light hair, light skin tone, and wearing a light blue tee shirt, tan cargo shorts, black tennis shoes, black shin high socks, and a black and silver ball cap, possibly Chicago Bulls cap.

Anyone with information on either case is asked to contact Detective J. Upton of the Robbery/Homicide Unit at (727) 582-6200 or to remain anonymous and be eligible for a reward contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-873-TIPS or www.crimestoppersofpinellas.org.

Surveillance video of the suspect at the Optical Outlet can be viewed on our YouTube page: https://youtu.be/ngDNMeQAMXg

The investigation continues.