Woman chases thief, hit by car

“For 76 blessed.”

Janice Allen is recovering at home after she was dragged and run over by a car in the parking lot of a fast-food restaurant after her purse was stolen.

It happened Thursday night at a McDonald’s on State Road 70 in Okeechobee.

And it years was old I’m caught on camera.

Allen was sitting in a booth with friend, eating dinner, after decorating their church for Christmas when a man came up behind her, stole her purse and took off. Allen ran right after him. Surveillance video outside the McDonald’s shows her opening the driver’s car door as the vehicle backs up and she falls to the ground — one of her legs seeming to get hit by the car’s front wheel.

Allen was treated for cuts and scrapes — but no broken bones — at a hospital.

“I thank the Lord for that. I’m just a little sore. I’m a lot sore,” Allen said.

She said she is extremely grateful for all the thoughts and prayers from people in the community, but now she’s asking people to pray for the man who put her in the hospital.

Charles Stratton Jr. was charged with strong armed robbery after he turned himself in. A woman who was in the car with Stratton has not been charged.

Stratton told police he stole the purse, which only had $4 inside, for crack cocaine.

According to the Okeechobee News, Stratton surrendered to authorities at the urging of his sister who said his misdeed was all over Facebook and he “needed to make it right.”

a