Tuesday, December 23, 2014
Shoplifters Arrested With Child In Vehicle
Local police officers were kept busy on a number of shoplifting calls last week, including one where an Alabama couple led them on a high speed chase with a child inside their vehicle.
According to reports filed through the Lawrenceburg Police Department officers were already on-scene at Walmart Thursday, investigating an unrelated shoplifting incident, when they noticed a vehicle traveling recklessly through the parking lot while a loss prevention officer pursued it on foot.
Officers report that eighteen year old Katelyn Marlene Cox of Haleyville, Alabama had pushed a shopping cart containing ninety-seven items out of the doors without paying for them. The items had a combined value of $668.82.
When the loss prevention officer confronted Cox at the front of the store, he said a vehicle pulled up and the driver, Michael Leland Henderson, age 41, also of Haleyville, exited and began to curse at him. He said Cox and Henderson got inside the vehicle and sped away, driving recklessly and cutting off other drivers.
The police officer activated his lights and sirens and gave chase. He said he pursued the vehicle approximately one mile along North Locust Avenue at speeds of up to 85 miles per hour. Once Henderson stopped the officer approached and found that there was an eleven year old child in the back seat.
The officer reports that, “For operating a motor vehicle with wanton disregard for the safety of persons and property,” Henderson was charged with reckless driving, and for operating a vehicle in such a manner as to, “Place a child in imminent danger of death or serious bodily injury,” he was issued charges of reckless endangerment. He was additionally charged with evading arrest. Cox was arrested on a charge of shoplifting.
Both Cox and Henderson were transported to the Lawrence County Detention Center where they were jailed under bonds of $3,000 and $7,000, respectively. Both are required to appear in General Sessions Court on February 5, 2015.
A referral was made to the Department of Children’s Services and the youngster was later released into the custody of his mother.
All of the stolen merchandise was returned to Walmart.
