Local Man arrested for wallet theft

Fernandina Beach Police Department

James T. Hurley, Chief

July 27, 2016 8:42

Lee Barron Williams, DOB 03/28/1970

The Fernandina Beach Police Department has charged an individual with Petit Theft after completing their investigation into the theft of a wallet from the Green Turtle Tavern in downtown Fernandina Beach last Thursday night.

Lee Barron Williams, Jr., 46 years of age, of 518 South 5th Street, confessed to taking the wallet and fleeing the Green Turtle Tavern on a bicycle. A local man, Thaxton Rowe, heard the commotion and gave chase, eventually recovering the wallet for the victim. Williams claimed that he did not take the wallet from the victim’s person, as reported, but rather that the wallet fell to the ground and he picked it up and ran with the intent to steal the contents.

At this time investigators do not believe that Williams is responsible for a separate purse snatch offense which occurred several weeks ago in the same area of town. That investigation remains open.

Anyone with information about this offense should call Detective Sergeant Tracey Hamilton at 904-310-3215.