A man accused of pushing a 79-year-old woman to the ground and stealing $60 from her appeared in bond court Wednesday morning.
The Broward Sheriff's Office said Kyle Austin Scheer, 37, of Plantation, attacked Mary Ann Bruno in the parking lot of a Publix at 402 E. Dania Beach Blvd. on Tuesday.
Bruno said she had felt uneasy when she went to the ATM to withdraw cash, so she asked someone in the store to go with her.
"The truth of the matter is, there was somebody funny-looking, suspicious-looking, hanging around my car," Bruno said.
After taking out $60, Bruno headed toward her car, and that's when a man attacked her.
"This whirlwind came with a body block and hit me on the left shoulder and knocked me completely down to the floor. My head hit the pavement, and then with his right hand, he grabbed the money and my credit card and ran," Bruno said.
The man tried to run away, but employees and customers who witnessed the crime chased him down, BSO said.
"The people who were shopping at Publix and outside were all screaming, 'Stop him, stop him,' and I understand that two people apprehended him, knocked him to the ground," Bruno said.
Donald Sayers, a bagger at the Publix, and some customers were among those who sprang into action.
"He jumped out and I heard her yell for help, and I turned around and there he was," Sayers said. "There were about three or four other guys that came running to try to block this creep."
Sayers said several men tackled Scheer to the ground and held him down until police could arrest him. They handed Bruno her credit card and the $60 that was stolen from her.
"Very grateful -- very, very grateful," Bruno said.
Bruno, who complained of pain and swelling at the back of her head, was taken to Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood.
Scheer was arrested on charges including robbery, battery on a person 65 years of age or older and second-degree petit theft. Investigators said he was also charged with probation violation because he was on probation in connection with a prior kidnapping charge.
Scheer appeared in bond court Wednesday morning, and a judge gave him $101,000 bond.