Pedaling purse snatcher, nabbed downtown, pleads guilty

One of two men who used bicycles to snatch a woman’s purse downtown pleaded guilty Friday to reduced charges.

Matthew B. Barshaw, 43, pleaded guilty to first-degree theft and third-degree assault, and Superior Court Judge Linda Tompkins sentenced him, as recommended in his plea bargain, to the 58 days in jail he had already served.

Barshaw and his alleged accomplice, 21-year-old Joseph R. Garrett, were charged with first-degree robbery.

The suspects were quickly rounded up with help from several witnesses, including two employees of the Saturn auto dealership at 1002 W. Second Ave. Saturn employees Aaron Kay and Mark Stevens joined the chase when they saw Melissa Frey chasing two bicyclists, one of whom had just snatched her purse from her with enough force to break its leather strap.

Frey had been walking north on Monroe when the incident occurred. She feared the strain of having her purse jerked away might have complicated her recovery from a recent surgery, but a hospital examination showed her injuries were minor.

According to court documents, Kay knocked down the man who had Frey’s purse, alleged to be Garrett, and Stevens prevented him from getting back on his bicycle. That man ran off, leaving Frey’s purse behind, while Barshaw pedaled beside him.

Witness Randy Schueneman followed the two men with his car and used a cell phone to report their location and descriptions to police. The two eventually parted company, but Schueneman led officers to Peaceful Valley, where they arrested Barshaw after a struggle.

Schueneman’s description of the other man enabled an officer who had recently been in contact with Garrett to locate and arrest him.

Court documents say Barshaw and Garrett admitted to police that they conspired to steal Frey’s purse.

Police Chief Roger Bragdon gave Kay an award for his role in the incident.