Casino Purse Snatchings

Man implicated in bank robberies admits casino purse snatchings
By Lori Caldwell

GARY — Beaver Bernard Russell, the Benton Harbor, Mich., man suspected of crimes in several Midwest states, has been charged with two robberies at Majestic Star Casino.

Russell, 47, admitted to FBI Special Agent Michael Peasley that he robbed two women during separate incidents in the Buffington Harbor parking garage, the probable cause affidavit states.

He was arrested last month after leading police on a high-speed, multistate chase through Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio. He is being held at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Chicago.

A $200,000 bail was set for Russell on the Gary charges.

Detective Sgt. Larry Robertson reviewed the FBI statement Russell made after his arrest.

He admitted grabbing the purses of two women, one Dec. 18 and the second Jan. 3.

A 69-year-old victim said the assailant grabbed her purse strap, causing her to be dragged to the ground. She suffered head injuries and other medical complications from the assault.

The second robbery involved a 59-year-old woman who said she used her cane to break out the robber’s tail light on his white car. She fell and was struck by his car as he fled the scene, the affidavit states.

Russell said he used the women’s credit cards in Indiana and Michigan.

He was charged in U.S. District Court in Hammond with two bank robberies, the Jan. 5 robbery of Mutual Bank in South Bend and Fifth Third Bank in Munster Jan. 12. Russell is also a suspect in a purse snatching at Westfield Southlake mall.