Purse-Snatching Suspect Arrested

A man matching the description of someone who stole a small purse from a girl Friday night at the was arrested on suspicion of robbery Saturday, said.

Mill Valley police Sgt. Steve Heisinger said a resident of Ryan Avenue, a few blocks west of the community center, called Saturday morning to say someone was rummaging around in his yard. The location was close to the one noted Friday night where the some contents of a purse were found following a strong-armed robbery reported at 10:54 p.m. at the community center.

The Saturday intruder matched the description of a suspect in the robbery, which had taken place during a large teen party at the community center, Heisinger said.

“It appears the guy came back to the place where the contents had been dumped to see if there was anything else,” Heisinger said.

Police responded to Ryan Avenue address and searched for the suspect. He was spotted and stopped by police about an hour later on foot the near the junction of East Blithedale and Kipling Drive, about three-quarters of a mile east of the community center not far from Highway 101.

While detaining the man, police brought in the girl whose purse had been stolen in what's called an infield show-up, whereby a crime victim can identify a suspect without the suspect seeing the victim. The girl made a positive identification and the man was arrested at 10:18 a.m.

Orlando Stubblefield, 19, of Richmond faces a felony robbery charge and a misdemeanor disorderly conduct/loitering charge, according to the Marin County Jail booking log. His bail was set at $50,000. He gave his occupation as law intern.

Heisinger said the case remains under investigation.