NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Downtown has been a growing hot spot for people and restaurants, and when Alan Laidlaw took a date downtown to celebrate her birthday Wednesday night, he never imagined it would end with him in bandages.
“I didn't even realize I had been cut until after the fact and there was blood around,” he said.
Police said 40-year-old Wayne Drury jumped out of a car and cut the purse off Alan's date when they waited for the valet around 10:45 p.m.
“I grabbed the purse, we went back and forth, at some point he cut me,” Laidlaw said.
He said his date helped pin Drury down and police said at that moment Drury got his foot stuck in a storm drain, which helped slow him down so others could jump in to help.
“People were around all the sudden and they were doing a lot of help someone a lady held her purse,” Laidlaw said.
They helped hold the suspect until police arrived.
Alan couldn't believe the would-be robber was brazen enough to attack such a crowded street.
“It was dumb,” he said, “I don’t think he’ll be doing that again.”
And while he doesn't suggest fighting a purse snatcher, it was undeniably a unique bonding experience for a budding relationship.
“Afterwards it was like, ‘High five dynamic duo,’” he laughed, “not that we’re going to do that again, but we were on top of it so that was good.”
They already have their next date planned: a shooting range. Laidlaw joked even a range would be safer than their last encounter.
Drury was arrested and charged with aggravated assault, attempted aggravated robbery and vandalism. He was held in lieu of an $85,000 bond.
Police were still looking for the person who drove the car in the attempted robbery. If you have any information, call Crimestoppers at (615) 742-7463. You can remain anonymous.
