Man arrested in connection with Largo purse snatching

LARGO — A Largo man has been arrested on suspicion of robbing a 68-year-old woman last month.

Police say 29-year-old Jesse Carlisle stole a woman's purse from her cart in the Publix grocery store parking lot at 12022 Indian Rocks Road on Dec. 30.

At around 7:30 p.m., the woman was pushing her cart from the store when she was confronted by Carlisle, who demanded her purse, according to authorities. She refused. He forcibly pulled her purse from the cart and left the area, police said.

Within an hour, he tried to access her bank account with her debit card. He also returned to the Publix the next day and used her grocery store gift card to buy food for himself, police said.

He was arrested on Thursday night after Largo Police detectives linked Carlisle to the crimes. He was arrested on several charges, including suspicion of strong arm robbery, grand theft and fraudulent use of a credit card. He also faces a charge of introducing contraband into a county detention facility. During a strip search, authorities found 46 oxycodone pills, according to an arrest affidavit. Friday, he was being held at the Pinellas County Jail in lieu of $17,000 bail.

Lorri Helfand can be reached at lorri@tampabay.com or (727) 445-4155.