Drug Addict Attempts to Steal Purse, Gets 15 Years
A drug problem can lead an individual to do desperate things to support a habit. For Zachery Dwayne Clanton, that desperation emerged in a purse snatching in a Kroger parking lot, according to a recent news report. Clanton has received 15 years for the crime.
In this incident, Clanton attempted to take the purse of a person in the Kroger parking lot. A struggle ensued and a number of bystanders witnessed the commotion. Clanton eventually gave up and ran to a waiting car. At the time of the robbery, Clanton was out on bond for an earlier incident of stealing a lawnmower.
With the number of individuals witnessing the incident, it was easy for officers to identify Clanton and his accomplices and make an arrest. Even though the purse was not taken and no one was hurt, Clanton’s parole status, drug problem and attempt at robbery did not help his situation.
Madison-Rankin District Attorney Michael Guest said in a news release, “Clanton has a prior drug conviction and drugs were involved in both of his new arrests. His drug use was fueled by him preying on others to support his addiction. He was quickly becoming a career criminal and he needed to be stopped before his crimes escalated further.
“The victim and witnesses who came to her aid were very brave, and their actions helped solve a robbery just minutes after the crime occurred. Their actions, along with the work of all of the law enforcement officers involved in these cases, helped make our community a safer place.”
