At approximately 1:54 PM this afternoon Lawrence Police responded to the Walgreen’s Pharmacy at 220 South Broadway for a report of an unarmed robbery.  Dispatch received information that a 94 year old female’s purse was snatched as she was sitting in a vehicle in the pharmacy’s parking lot waiting for her daughter who was in the store at the time.   The first officer to arrive on scene provided a description of the suspect to responding units.   Moments later the suspect was spotted by a responding officer as he was attempting to flee along railroad tracks that run adjacent to the Walgreen’s parking lot. He was simultaneous taken into custody by members of the Lawrence Police Patrol and Detectives Division.   The purse was recovered with its contents intact. While the entire event was unfolding an officer, who was dispatching, was able to view video footage of the incident which was provided through the City’s recently installed camera system. This video footage provided the direction in which the suspect fled, as well as a more detailed description. This information was crucial in the expeditious apprehension of the suspect and recovery of the purse by detectives. 

 Taylor Matkivich age 26 of Lawrence will be arraigned tomorrow in Lawrence District Court charged with Unarmed Robbery of a person over 65 and Trespassing.

The 94 female was examined on scene by EMT’s from Lawrence General Hospital but did not require medical attention at that time.