Robbery thwarted by quick action

Police are crediting quick-thinking witnesses and a cooperative victim with nabbing a man they say tried to rob a woman Wednesday.

Police arrested Douglas Rodney Nicholson, 39, on suspicion of attempted robbery Wednesday after they said he approached a woman at about 10:46 a.m. on Fairview Road between the 55 Freeway and Wilson Street and tried to steal her purse.

The woman, 5-feet-tall, 120 pounds and in her early 20s, fought off the much bigger Nicholson’s attempts to snatch her purse and refused to hand over money when he demanded it, said Lt. Clay Epperson. Bystanders saw the scuffle and called police, who thanks to their and the woman’s description, were able to catch Nicholson down the block near Wilson and Avalon streets, Epperson said.

Nicholson is being held in lieu of $50,000 bail in Orange County Jail.

— Joseph Serna