Man Steals Police Cruiser After Shoplifting Spree in Chattanooga

Wild Weekend in Chattanooga: Man Steals Police Cruiser After Shoplifting

Chattanooga was buzzing over the weekend with an incident that’s straight out of a movie! A 29-year-old man, Antonio Pickett, found himself in a whirlwind of trouble after allegedly trying to shoplift at a local Walmart. But it didn’t stop there—this story takes a bizarre twist when he ends up stealing a police cruiser and leading officers on quite the chase!

The Shoplifting Incident

It all began on a quiet Saturday afternoon at the Walmart on Greenway View Drive. According to an official complaint, Pickett and another man were using the self-checkout lane, attempting to pay for various items including several packs of athletic trading cards. However, there seemed to be a hiccup when they tried to pay with a debit card that failed multiple times.

In a moment of panic or perhaps poor judgment, the duo decided to pick up their groceries and just walk out without paying. Not surprisingly, Walmart’s ever-vigilant asset protection staff, along with local police, were on high alert and confronted them before they could slip away.

Initially, the men appeared cooperative, walking back into the store, but that soon changed. Reports indicate that Pickett suddenly dropped the bags and made a run for it! After a scuffle that ensued when he collided with a bystander, the police quickly apprehended him. There were claims he physically resisted arrest, but officers managed to get him handcuffed tightly to keep him from slipping away.

The Great Escape

Once handcuffed, Pickett was placed inside a patrol car while officers attended to the situation inside the store. However, just a few moments later, things took a shocking turn. When the officers stepped outside, they noticed something alarming: the patrol car was nowhere to be found!

“The patrol car Mr. Antonio Pickett was placed into was missing from the last known spot,” the officers noted in the complaint. Video footage would later reveal that Pickett had managed to somehow open a sliding window in the back of the police cruiser, climb through it (with his cuffs fascinatingly now in front!), and take off driving!

Fast and Furious: The Chase

Pickett didn’t just cruise casually. Reports state he drove the stolen cruiser erratically down Lee Highway at speeds that would make anyone’s heart race! He didn’t stop there; he crashed into another vehicle at a chaotic intersection, flipping the patrol car multiple times before it finally landed upright.

After the crash, in an attempt to flee, Pickett abandoned the wreckage and made a run for it up an embankment towards the interstate. Officers, not far behind, quickly caught up with him and arrested him. What a scene it must have been!

From Bad to Worse

As if the situation couldn’t get any crazier, Pickett had to be transported to Erlanger hospital for evaluation due to injuries sustained during the violent crash. Thankfully, he was deemed fit to be released back to custody at the Hamilton County Jail after a few hours.

Why So Many Charges?

After all this drama, Pickett is facing a whopping 20 charges! These include serious offenses such as auto burglary, reckless endangerment, and assault. It’s safe to say his weekend took a turn for the worse in a hurry!

This wild episode left the community chatting and made for quite the rollercoaster of a weekend in Chattanooga. It serves as a reminder of how quickly things can spiral, and we can only hope that everyone involved finds a way to learn from this chaotic adventure. Let’s gear up to see how this story unfolds in the days ahead!