FORREST CITY, Ark. — A Forrest City cop car is sitting the scrap yard, and the man accused of stealing it is in the hospital and facing more than a dozen charges.
Police said Billy Joe Thomas, 62, stole the car after he was caught shoplifting.
The Food Giant manager said he called the cops Monday afternoon when he saw Thomas trying to steal $187 worth of beer and meat.
When Police pulled up in the parking lot, Thomas told them he wasn’t feeling well and needed to sit down.
Officers said he staggered to a cop car and plopped down in the driver’s seat. They tried to get him out, but said Thomas hit the gas.
Police said he started driving 90 miles per hour down North Washington. Officers tailed behind.
“I didn’t know what was going on,” said Kelsey Morris, who saw the commotion. “I saw the police car coming down the highway real fast and hit the curb.”
Police said the chaos ended right in front of the Masonic Temple on North Division.
They said Thomas lost control of the car and smashed into a tree stump.
“The tire blew out, the windshield was busted, and the side was all dented in,” said Morris.
Thomas was taken to the hospital with a broken hip.
As soon as he’s healed, he will head to jail and face two counts of aggravated assault, theft of property over $5,000, fleeing in a vehicle, driving while his license was suspended, no proof of insurance, driving left of center, driving with no seat belt, reckless driving, disregarding a stop and go light, leaving the scene of an accident, resisting arrest, failure to stop at a stop sign and shoplifting.
Police said more charges are possible, because Thomas is likely behind other shoplifting incidents in the area.
Police said moments before Thomas stole from the grocery store, he was involved in a hit-and-run and sent one woman to the hospital.
She told WREG she’s doing just fine.
