Police: Purse snatcher caught in the act of committing a second robbery

Apr 9, 2019

A man wanted for allegedly knocking an elderly woman to the ground in a purse snatching was taken into custody after an off-duty police detective said he caught the suspect red handed stealing another woman’s purse.

The first purse snatching was reported on April 8 at 9:51 a.m. outside Citizen's Bank. An unidentified man was caught on surveillance video allegedly pushing a 76-year-old woman to the ground and making off with her purse. The suspect fled in a silver Toyota Corolla. Dartmouth Police put out a request to help identify the suspect.

On April 9 at around noon, police released a wanted poster identifying the alleged suspect as Miguel Brasil, now homeless with a last known address in New Bedford.

Hours later, Det. Sgt. Frank Oliveira, while off-duty, reported seeing Brasil in the act of robbing a 72-year-old woman at the Rite Aid on Dartmouth Street. The officer called for backup after watching Brasil enter the same Toyota Corolla.

After allegedly fleeing from police in Dartmouth, Basil allegedly struck a Dartmouth police cruiser while attempting to illegally pass other drivers on Grape Street in New Bedford.

Brasil was transported to St. Luke’s Hospital to be treated for injuries sustained in the crash. The officer driving the cruiser, Sgt. Scott Stanton, was not injured.

Brasil faces numerous charges in connection with both incidents.

Dartmouth Police Chief Brian Levesque credited the department and the public for helping to identify the suspect quickly.

“This is an outstanding example of this department’s commitment to making sure that this rogue and dangerous individual was quickly taken off the street for the egregious crimes that he committed,” Levesque said in a press release. “I would also like to thank the public for their assistance in helping us identify Brasil yesterday. Because of their help, my detectives were able to secure an arrest warrant by this morning, and quickly disseminate information about Brasil to both law enforcement agencies and the public alike.”