PORT ANGELES — Arrest warrants of $100,000 each were issued Monday and Tuesday for two Port Angeles residents who allegedly stole a purse Sunday morning in the Third Street Safeway, dragging the bag’s 79-year-old owner on the parking lot before fleeing in a minivan.
Port Angeles police were seeking Alivia Laurente Konapaski, 21, and Orlando Jose Yslava, 28, on one charge each of accomplice to first-degree robbery and accomplice to second-degree assault with a deadly weapon — the van that pulled Margerett Platt across the pavement.
The Port Angeles resident, treated at Olympic Medical Center for a cut on her head and pain in her back and legs, was released following the incident.
The robbery charge carries a maximum term of life in prison; the assault charge, a maximum of 10 years.
Konopaski was released on her own recognizance Dec. 6 on charges of second-degree organized retail theft and second-degree burglary, both Class B felonies, for allegedly stealing items from Walmart between Dec. 1 and Dec. 5, according to a probable cause statement. Her trial is set for Feb. 28.
She has no criminal history in the state of Washington, according to court records.
Yslava has no criminal history. He had two anti-harassment orders filed against him by Konopaski in 2018.
Numerous eyewitnesses described the robbery and store surveillance video recorded the events, according to police.
According to the video, a man was seen at about 11:05 a.m. Sunday grabbing Platt’s purse from her shopping cart.
He ran outside and got into the Chrysler Pacifica minivan, followed by Platt, police said.
Platt opened the passenger-side front door, grabbing at her purse before the driver accelerated in reverse, knocking her to the ground and dragging her several feet, according to the probable cause statement.
Witnesses said they saw Platt being pulled along the ground.
The driver of the van fled down East Third Street, police said.
Platt said the purse contained a small amount of cash, credit cards and debit cards.
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 55650, or at [email protected].
Alivia L. Konopaski
