The New Boston Police Department is asking for public assistance in locating an accused purse snatcher who has managed to elude them for the past week.

They are looking for Diana Herdman, 39, a white female about 5'5” tall, 160 to 170 pounds, blonde hair who wears thick glasses, who they accuse of stealing a purse at Wal-Mart on the evening of July 12.

“Shortly thereafter, she was using the victim's credit cards in Wheelersburg and in Russell, Ky.,” said Capt. Steve Goins, adding they found out Herdman also is a fugitive from justice after the Scioto County Adult Probation Department issued a warrant for her arrest for violating her probation.

“The Portsmouth Police detectives and the Scioto County Sheriff's detectives are also investigating her for stolen checks that she forged throughout the city and the county,” he said.

Goins said that Herdman lasts known address was on Harding Avenue in Sciotoville and she is known to frequent the Wheelersburg area.

Goins said they almost caught her on Tuesday after police found her at a Hastings Hills residence in Wheelersburg.

“We got there on the scene but she got into a vehicle and left before we could take her into custody,” he said.

Herdman led police on a high-speed pursuit east on U.S. 52 where she crossed the Jesse Stuart Bridge into Kentucky and eluded police.

“I've had people tell me that she's a really bad drug addict, that's probably why she's committing these offenses,” Goins said. “We would like to get her into custody before one of her victims gets physically hurt. She definitely endangered people during that high-speed pursuit.”

Goins said he doesn't expect Herdman to voluntarily turn herself in.

“She's not going give herself up, we are going to have to track her down, hopefully before she gets in a vehicle,” he said.

He warned that anyone who aids or abets Herdman is guilty of complicity or obstructing justice.

“That is a crime and we will file charges on them if they help her elude the police,” Goins said.

Anyone with information about the location of Herdman can contact New Boston Police at (740) 456-4109 or the Scioto County Sheriff's Office at (740) 354-7566. All calls will be kept confidential.

MARK SHAFFER can be reached at (740) 353-3101, ext. 235.