A suspected shoplifter who police say hit an officer with his car while fleeing from a Coconut Creek, Florida, Walmart last month has been arrested. Avonta Lamar Bailey, 30, was arrested Saturday in Dania Beach on charges including aggravated battery on an officer, grand theft, eluding a police officer, leaving the scene of a crash involving property damage and resisting arrest with violence in the June 29 incident, Coconut Creek Police officials said Monday.
Officials said the officer was working an extra duty detail at the Walmart in the 5500 block of West Hillsboro Road when loss prevention associates alerted the officer that a suspected shoplifter left the store with two stolen computers. The officer tried to speak with the suspect, who was putting the items in his car, when the man put his car in reverse and hit the officer with his open driver’s side door, officials said.
The impact knocked the officer to the ground and the officer had to roll out of the way to avoid being hit by the car as the suspect fled. The officer was taken to a nearby hospital and later released, and was not seriously injured. Bailey remained behind bars on $47,000 bond Monday, jail records showed. Attorney information wasn’t available.  [Source: NBC6 Miami]