Two people were arrested after police say they stole a car from a convenience store and led officers on a chase through Greenwood’s east side.
Christopher Ray Robinson, 33, of Franklin, was arrested on charges of vehicle theft — a Level 6 Felony — possession of a hypodermic syringe and resisting law enforcement. He also had several outstanding warrants in Johnson, Marion, Hendricks and Hancock counties.
Abigail Michelle McDermott, 22, of Franklin, was arrested on charges of bond forfeiture and possession of cocaine. She also had several outstanding warrants in Johnson and Marion counties.
The Greenwood Police Department responded to a call about 6 p.m. Monday that a woman’s vehicle was taken from a gas station parking lot in the 800 block of E. Main Street.
The victim said she left her keys, phone and purse inside her blue Chevrolet Trax while she went inside the store, according to a Greenwood Police Department report.
When she came back outside, her car was gone.
Police reported the vehicle as stolen. Shortly after, it was seen traveling east on Main Street. An officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop, but the driver, later identified as Robinson, continued south onto Sheek Road without stopping. Another officer joined in the pursuit, according to the report.
Police pursued Robinson, who turned onto Emerald Lakes Drive, and attempted to go north on Spinnaker Bay, which eventually became a dead end.
When he reached the end of the road, Robinson stopped the car and fled on foot north through a wooded area into another apartment complex, the report said.
The officer in pursuit asked Robinson to stop several times, then deployed his Taser onto Robinson’s back, according to the report.
Robinson fell to the ground, and was instructed to put his hands behind his back, which he disregarded. Robinson held his left arm under his pelvic area, and the officer deployed the Taser again to release it, the report said.
Robinson was eventually handcuffed and checked by first responders at the scene, according to the report.
The owner of the stolen vehicle arrived at the scene and collected her belongings. She found two orange capped syringes in her purse that she told police were not hers, but nothing else appeared to have been tampered with, she said.
She told police the gas station clerk observed a man fitting Robinson’s description look inside the car before getting in. He then instructed the woman who was with him, identified as McDermott, to get in.
Officers questioned Robinson and McDermott at the scene. Both said the syringes found in the car were not theirs, and neither of them knew the woman who reported the car as stolen, according to the report.
Robinson told police he thought the car belonged to his cousin, so that was why he took it.
Both were arrested. Robinson had several warrants in different counties for theft, unlawful possession of a syringe and failure to return to lawful detention, according to online court records. McDermott also had several warrants for theft and unlawful possession of a syringe, court records showed.
Robinson was taken first to Johnson Memorial Hospital where he was cleared. Both were taken to the Johnson County jail. Robinson is held on $3,900 bond. McDermott is held on $7,730.50.
