The Calera Police Department said suspects in a theft at Walmart abandoned two kids after a wrong-way high-speed chase down Interstate 65 Sunday afternoon.
Police first responded to a retail theft at the Calera Walmart at 2:20 p.m. Officers spotted the suspects fleeing north on U.S. Hwy 31 and began to follow them until they entered Interstate 65 South. When Calera officers saw kids in the car, they backed off, but the vehicle continued.
Agencies with Chilton and Autauga Counties, along with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency State Troopers, responded after the vehicle proceeded the wrong way on I-65, police said. Troopers spiked the vehicle’s tires and the suspects fled on foot but were taken into custody. Still inside the vehicle were two small children.
Upon further investigation, police discovered that two other children had been left at Walmart.
“These suspects showed absolutely no regard for the safety of these children or the public,” Calera Police Chief David Hyche stated.
Police took two adults from Montgomery into custody. One is being charged with felony attempting to elude, reckless endangerment, abandonment of a child, retail theft and 16 traffic violations. The suspect had prior retail theft charges.
The second suspect had 46 prior arrests in four states and had multiple outstanding felony warrants, as well as a nationwide extradition warrant.
“Fleeing the police in a vehicle is stupid,” Hyche said. “Doing it with kids in the car is horrific, and I don’t know what to say about leaving two kids at Walmart while you try to escape with your stolen electronics.
“Stealing is a gamble,” he continued. “Stealing in Calera is gambling in a casino where the house always wins. Our law enforcement partners to the South are amazing. We wouldn’t have caught these two today without Chilton Co., Jemison, Clanton and ALEA. I also want to commend the Walmart staff for always doing a great job working with us to stop retail theft. Retail theft makes prices higher for all of us.”
The names of the suspects have not been released.
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