AUGUSTA — A city man accused of robbing a woman of her purse reportedly took the money and promptly spent it on a synthetic drug called spice, which he smoked, according to an affidavit filed in court.
Terry J. Sounier, 40, is charged with robbery, assault and theft by unauthorized taking in connection with the incident that occurred on Thursday afternoon on Jefferson Street.
The affidavit, by Augusta Police Officer Michael Unterkoefler, says a 56-year-old woman had returned to her Jefferson Street apartment by taxi after doing some banking.
The woman told police that a man she knew only as “TJ” followed her up the stairs to her apartment and asked if she had gotten paid that day. She said, no, and he then asked if she wanted to smoke a bowl of spice, also known as synthetic marijuana, with him.
She said the man tried to grab her key from her hand and then grabbed her by the neck and removed her pocketbook that was on her shoulder and left. She said he pushed her to the ground, and Unterkoefler said he saw an abrasion on her left elbow.
The woman said her purse contained $21, bank receipts, a rubber spice bowl and pants.
Several people told police they heard the woman scream, “He robbed me and took all my money” and a neighbor described a man she saw walking away from the woman’s apartment who appeared to be concealing an item under his sweatshirt.
Police identified Sounier as a suspect and waited outside his mother’s apartment until he came out.
Sounier told them the woman owed him $30 and would not give it to him but invited him inside.
He said she offered him $20, but then pulled it back. He said she grabbed his arm and he pushed her back.
Sounier was arrested on the charges and made an initial court appearance Friday at the Capital Judicial Center via video from the jail.
Sounier’s bail was set at $1,500 cash with a Maine Pretrial Services contract with conditions that prohibit him from possessing spice and from having contact with the named victim and the witnesses.
Betty Adams — 621-5631
Twitter: @betadams
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