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A suspected shoplifter at a Perryville store led officers on a 15-mile vehicular and foot pursuit straight back to her Ste. Genevieve County home on Saturday.
The suspect, identified as Christine Rena Price, 45, of St. Mary, is charged with felony stealing and resisting arrest for a felony.
According to reports from the Perryville Police Department, at approximately 8:15 p.m. Saturday, officers were dispatched to Dollar Tree in the Perry Plaza on North Kingshighway in regard to a female subject who appeared to be actively shoplifting.
When police arrived on the scene, officers discovered that the suspect, later identified as Price, had left the store and was attempting to leave in a minivan.
An officer approached the van and attempted to get Price to roll down her window and speak with him. As the officer walked up to the window, the report says the officer observed Price attempting to conceal several items between the driver’s seat and center console.
Police say Price ignored several verbal commands to roll down her window and when the officer attempted to open the driver’s door, she rapidly accelerated and left her parking spot, almost striking the officer who was attempting to open the door.
According to the report, Price then rapidly accelerated out of Perry Plaza onto Kingshighway (U.S. 61) and began traveling north, pursued by officers. She did not stop, leading them on a pursuit into Ste. Genevieve County, where she went off the road to avoid running over stop spikes.
When Price reached Highway J in Ste. Genevieve County, she made an abrupt left hand turn, almost striking a Perry County Sheriff’s patrol vehicle, then proceeded south on U.S. 61, finally coming to a stop at 6th Street in St. Mary’s near her home.
She then abandoned the vehicle and began to flee on foot.
After a short foot pursuit, she was taken into custody.
Price's stealing charge was elevated to a Class E felony because it was her fourth or subsequent stealing offense within 10 years. She is being held t the Perry County Jail on a $10,000 cash-only bond.
