An alleged shoplifter who tried to reach the Alabama state line Wednesday to shake law enforcement didn’t quite make it.
Local law enforcement pursued Mamie Hawkins, 46, of 2323 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. N., for about 10 minutes Wednesday afternoon after the suspect reportedly stole items from Reed’s department store on Highway 45 in Columbus. Authorities finally apprehended Hawkins on Mississippi Highway 50 east of Columbus after Lowndes County sheriff’s deputies employed spike strips on the roadway to stop her.
She is being charged with shoplifting, failure to yield and felony evasion, CPD Capt. Brent Swan said. She will appear in municipal court today.
Columbus Police Department received a call about a shoplifter at Reed’s, city Public Information Officer Joe Dillon said. Employees at Reed’s gave police the description and tag number of the vehicle. Dillon said the vehicle had a Hinds County tag.
A city police officer later spotted the car near Main Street and 14th Avenue and attempted a traffic stop. The driver did not comply, however, and the vehicle continued through downtown.
Eventually, Hawkins drove onto Highway 82 East with police still pursuing her.
Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office deputies who were already in East Columbus set up spike strips near the exit to Mississippi Highway 50, Dillon said.
The spikes shredded one of Hawkins’ vehicle’s front tires, but Dillon said the vehicle continued for another 2.5 miles before Hawkins pulled over and city police arrested her.
Law enforcement found merchandise with Reed’s tags in her vehicle, Dillon said.
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