Four men are in custody after a Tuesday evening purse snatching during which an Evans woman was dragged through a grocery store parking lot.

According to police, the woman, 65, was getting into her vehicle at about 7:30 p.m. outside Kroger at 4355 Washington Road, when four men in a silver colored Cadillac drove up.

One of the men jumped out and tried to take her purse, according to a Columbia County Sheriff’s Office report.

However, the woman refused to let go, even when the man jumped into the backseat of the car with the purse and the driver accelerated. She told police that she was dragged several feet before her purse strap broke and the men drove away.

A deputy later chased a similar vehicle speeding on Gibbs Road. He and another officer eventually found the car stopped at the end of Holly Hill Road and saw Tony Lamar McClendon, 19, of Taylor Street in Augusta, get out and flee into a wooded area. Three other men in the vehicle were detained. They were Christopher Johnson, 21, of the 2800 block of Royal Street, Augusta; Brandon Jamal Curry, 19, of the 2100 block of B Street, Augusta; and Johnathan Devar Harrell, of the 500 block of Richmond Hill Road, Augusta.

Using the K-9 unit, police tracked Mr. McClendon to Myers Lane where they say he stole a Nissan Altima, drove through a resident’s yard, parked it in a nearby driveway and again tried to flee on foot. Police believe it was Mr. McClendon who drug the woman through the parking lot.

Investigators said they found the woman’s checkbook and a broken purse buckle in the front seat of the Cadillac.

After interviewing the suspects, police found her purse and wallet near Gibbs and Hereford Farm roads.

All four men were charged with strong arm robbery. Mr. McClendon also was charged for stealing the Nissan.

Additionally, Mr. Johnson was charged with possession of a weapon during the commission of a crime. Columbia County sheriff’s Capt. Steve Morris said Mr. Johnson was carrying a gun at the time of the robbery, but didn’t produce it.

More charges against the men are pending, Capt. Morris said. He was unsure when bond might be set for the men, but he doesn’t expect it to happen today.

Reach Donnie Fetter at (706) 863-6165 or donnie.fetter@augustachronicle.com