Man on probation for robbery arrested again

A woman attempting to enter her parked vehicle along the bayfront Christmas night was knocked to the ground and robbed of her purse by three ruffians who were captured by St Augustine police later last night.

At about 9:25 p.m., the victim told police that she had her purse “ripped from her shoulder” as she was trying to get into her car.

The oldest of the three assailants, 26-year-old Eric Lenard Badie, Jr., who resides at 200 South Woodlawn Street in St Augustine, has been on probation since his release from Taylor Correctional Institution on July 24, 2012.

He was sentenced in St Johns County on May 16, 2008, to a five-year prison term for an armed robbery that occurred July 26, 2007. Previously, Badie had been in and out of prison between 8/24/2005 and 9/13/2006 following a felony battery conviction.

Police Sergeant Jason Etheredge pursued Badie from the scene, on foot, and detained him for questioning as the investigation continued.

Two juvenile boys, one of whom a witness identified as having been with Badie as he committed the robbery, told police that Badie was the one who actually took the purse. Property belonging to the victim was found in the possession of one of the juveniles. All three were charged with robbery by sudden snatching; a third-degree felony.

The victim identified the contents of her purse — all of which, except for $50 cash, was located on the suspects. Her property was returned to her by police at the scene.

Badie was booked into the St Johns County Detention Facility at 2:18 a.m. this morning, without bond, facing additional charges of resisting arrest without violence and violation of probation.