Shoplifting suspects lead Mansfield police on chase ending in crash in stolen car
Three men are in custody after swiping merchandise from a local store and leading Mansfield police on a chase in a stolen vehicle Monday afternoon, the department said in a news release.
Officers responded to a shoplifting report at Target, located at 1801 N. U.S. 287 Frontage Road in Mansfield, about 3 p.m. A drone successfully located the suspects’ gray Toyota Camry, the release states, and police learned it had been stolen in Richardson earlier that day.
Two suspects fled from police in the Camry while the third suspect stayed inside Target, according to the release. They crashed into a Chevrolet Suburban in the 3900 block of Interstate 20 in Dallas and the pursuit ended.
The Suburban had been involved in an unrelated accident a few minutes prior, and its occupants were outside the vehicle when the Camry hit it. No injuries were reported, police said.
The Camry’s driver and passenger — 65-year-old Nelson Murray and 62-year-old Willie McNealy — were arrested. Murray faces charges of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, evading arrest with a vehicle and engaging in organized retail theft, according to the release.
The third suspect, 63-year-old Erwin Roland, was arrested at Target. Police said he was carrying nearly $400 worth of stolen merchandise. Around $1,200 of stolen merchandise was recovered from the car, the release states.
Roland and McNealy face charges of engaging in organized retail theft. The three men are currently being held in the Mansfield Jail, and their bond will be set by a judge, according to police records.
Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to contact Tri-County Auto Theft Task Force Investigator Joe Bourget at joe.bourget@mansfieldtexas.gov or 817-473-0211.
