Purse snatcher arrested, identified as fugitive

Hoover Police Department has identified the suspect arrested in a weekend purse snatching as a fugitive from Florida.

On Saturday at 7:40 p.m., a Hispanic male suspect drove up next to a female shopper, grabbed her purse and dragged her a short distance before she was knocked to the pavement. The victim was treated on the scene and transported to Medical West FED for further treatment.

An officer saw the suspect’s vehicle and pursued him onto I-459 to I-65 North and into Homewood. The suspect got out of his car at Crestview Apartments on Temple Crest Drive and attempted to flee on foot.

He was captured by Homewood police officers, and Hoover police took him into custody and transported him to Hoover City Jail.

The suspect provided false information to officers and has previously provided false names to law enforcement officers. Detectives performed fingerprint comparisons in order to discover his identity.

The suspect was identified as Oscar Villagram, 28. He was charged with third degree robbery, obstructing justice using false identification and attempting to elude. His bond is set at $151,000.

Detectives also determined Villagram is wanted for robbery and aggravated battery in Orange County, Florida. In July 2014, he reportedly drove next to a victim and grabbed her purse when she was in a department store parking lot. He provided a fake name to officers during that arrest as well. Villagram reportedly posted bond in Florida and has been a fugitive since.

Villagram will be transferred to Jefferson County Jail today, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agents have been called to assist in the case.