Three shoplifting suspects are in the hospital after a high speed police chase ended with a crash. It started after police got a call of two women stealing about $1,800 worth of clothes from a Snellville (Georgia) department store.
The chase lasted only a couple of minutes and covered about a mile-and-a-half, but it was dangerous enough that we asked police, why chase shoplifters in the first place? “Well it’s really a judgment call. We have a chase policy in Snellville where we chase as long as we don’t deem it unreasonably dangerous for the public,” Detective Jeff Manley said.
Snellville police said the chase was so short, they didn’t have time to believe it was too dangerous to call off. The car full of suspected shoplifters flew through the busy intersection of Highway 78 and Wisteria Drive just after 6 PM Saturday. “That’s a very busy intersection. They put a lot of people in danger,” Manley said.
The suspects went into oncoming lanes as they passed south Gwinnett High School, and then seconds later lost control rounding a curve on Skyland Drive. Channel 2 Action News obtained body camera video that shows officers approaching the mangled car with guns drawn. Officers were able to get the injured driver out, but the two passengers were trapped. Firefighters cut them out. Inside the car, police said they found not only Kohl’s merchandise, but items from two other stores they believe the crew hit, as well. “It looks like they just went on a shoplifting spree,” Manley said… WSB-TV2 Action News