Christmas saved after multi-agent pursuit.

Just as a holiday lights began to twinkle across Lauderdale county, deputies received a call no one expected the Grinch had been spotted on Highway 43, speeding away in a rickety green jalopy stuffed with stolen presents pilfered decorations and most alarming of all is alarming was a sack full of terrified reindeer.

When deputies attempted to pull him over the Grinch cackled through the window and stomped the gas kicking off a pursuit that would be talked about for years. The chase tore through the quiet streets of Saint Florian sending porch light swinging and dogs barking as the Grinch's overloaded car fishtailed wildly.

The Saint Florian Police Department quickly joined in trying to box him in but the Grinch slipped through like a greased ornament rolling under the tree. From there he roared into the city of florence, where the Florence Police Department took up the pursuit. The Grinch swerved across lanes, shouting insults, holiday jingles, and the occasional unhinged "you'll never catch me" as presents flew from the back of his vehicle like festive landmines his disorderly conduct only escalated when he chucked a half-eaten candy cane at an officer's windshield.

Finally, with his jalopy belching smoke and one tire shredded, the Grinch tried to make a desperate break across the county line. But as he crossed into Colbert county, he found two sets of spike strips waiting one from the Culver County sheriff Department the other from Lauderdale County deputies still hot on his tail.

His car is skidded, spun and came to a dramatic stop in a ditch. Deputies from both counties swarmed him before he could escape on foot. The Grinch was promptly arrested on a sleigh full of charges: attempting to elude, disorderly conduct, cruelty to animals, burglary, and theft of property. The reindeer were rescued the stolen goods were returned, and Christmas spirit was restored across the shoals.

As for the grinch? Well he's spending the holiday behind bars where the only thing he's allowed to steal is a honey bun and some raymond.