Good samaritan awarded after helping catch purse snatcher

Update: Good samaritan awarded!

Last month when 17-year old Yoandry Perez grabbed 81-year old Gertrude Bosch's purse from her at a Tampa Publix, good samaritan Phillip Blue helped stop the suspect and get Bosch's purse back.

You may remember the story - the dramatic incident was all caught on surveillance video. You can watch the clip here by clicking on the video link to the right.

Today Phillip Blue received the city's Citizen of the Month Award at Tampa Police Headquarters. After seeing the couple in the store last month, today was the first time he got to meet them.

Here's our earlier story:

View a Photo Gallery of the incident here

Tampa, Florida - A 17-year-old purse snatching suspect is in custody and tonight Tampa Police have released the shocking video showing his alleged crime.

Gertrude Bosch, 81, and her 80-year-old brother, Ramon, were shopping in the Publix Supermarket on West Hillsborough Avenue (map) when Tampa Police say Yoandry Perez of Tampa, snatched Gertrude's purse, knocking the elderly woman and her brother to the ground.

The incident happened around 9:23 Tuesday morning and was witnessed by a number of customers who ran after the suspect, who jumped on his bicycle outside the store trying to flee.

The crime was also captured on store surveillance video, which shows Ramon Bosch checking to make sure his sister was okay before jumping up to chase after the suspect.

The crime outraged many Publix customers who saw the video for the first time Thursday afternoon.

"That's sad. We are supposed to protect our elderly," said customer Stephanie Horley. "That woman could have been killed if she fell and hit her head on the ground."

Tampa Police quickly arrived on scene to arrest the suspect without incident. Investigators say he was carrying a knife in his pocket and was supposed to be on home detention.

Officers say both victims are shaken but were uninjured in this morning's attempted theft.