Man, Woman Charged In Meijer Parking Lot Purse Snatching

WASHINGTON TWP. (WWJ) -  Authorities say tips helped them track down a couple who allegedly stole a woman's purse as she was loading groceries into her car at a Meijer store in Macomb County.

Andre Ranell Johnson, 31, and Makailee Nicole Medrano, 22, were arrested at their home in Romeo on Wednesday and then video arraigned in the 42-1 District Court on charges of larceny from a person, a 10 year felony. Both were given $75,000 bonds.

The charges stem from an incident that happened Thursday night at the Meijer in Washington Township.

The 57-year-old victim told police she had exited the store and was in the process of loading groceries in her vehicle when she was approached by a man and a woman. As the couple walked past the victim's shopping cart, the female suspect grabbed the victim's purse and began to run across the parking lot.

The victim chased after the woman, who removed the victim's wallet and dropped the purse between some parked vehicles. Police say other witnesses began to yell at the suspect and she eventually threw the wallet on the ground, then proceeded to a Dodge Durango that was parked nearby. The vehicle sped away from the scene.

Police on Tuesday released images of the suspects taken from the store's surveillance system, asking the public for information -- and that's just what they got. The Sheriff's office says they received 22 tips which eventually led to the identification of Johnson and Medrano as the suspects. Warrants were then issued for their arrests, which were made Wednesday morning.

Johnson and Medrano, who are both still in the Macomb County Jail, are due back in court on February 23.