SHARE

5 Maryland Thieves Crash Into Tractor-Trailer During Chase On I-83 In PA: Police

What started as a retail theft of perfume quickly escalated to a police pursuit on an interstate in Pennsylvania on Wednesday, September 7, authorities say. 

Teona James, Tymera James, Destiny Thomas, Joseph Wright, and the Ulta in Lower Paxton Township where the theft allegedly occurred.

Teona James, Tymera James, Destiny Thomas, Joseph Wright, and the Ulta in Lower Paxton Township where the theft allegedly occurred.

Photo Credit: Lower Paxton Township police; Google Maps (Street View)

Teona James, 25, Tymera James, 20, Destiny Thomas, 22, Joseph Wright, 31, and a 16-year-old teenage girl, were all involved in chase which began at the Ultra Beauty in Lower Paxton Township around 7 p.m., according to area police.

The police were dispatched to a report that two women "had just stolen a large amount of fragrances and other merchandise" from the store located at 5112 Jonestown Road, police say.

The women fled from the store in a black sedan with out of state registration plates, as detailed in the release. 

Police on patrol found a black sedan matching the description in the area of Jonestown Road and attempted to a traffic stop but it took off, according to the release.

The vehicle immediately fled west on Jonestown Road before heading onto Interstate 83-South into Cumberland County going towards Maryland, police explain. 

"In the area of the New Cumberland exit, the black sedan attempted to pass a tractor trailer on the shoulder of the road. The driver lost control of the vehicle and it struck the guide rail. The vehicle then caromed back into the travel lane and side swiped the tractor trailer – causing significant damage to the sedan. The vehicle then collided with the guide rail a second time before coming to rest of the shoulder of the interstate, " police say.

Two women hopped out and fled on foot but were quickly apprehended. 

After all five Maryland were arrested,  merchandise from the Ulta Store - as well as the Under Armour Outlet in Derry Township - was spotted "in plain view in the backseat," police say.

All five suspects face charges of felony retail theft and drug possession. Wright will face additional traffic charges as he was the driver of the black sedan, police say and court records confirm.

The four adults were sent to Dauphin County Prison in lieu of bail. The juvenile female was released to the custody of a relative. The investigation is ongoing, according to the release.

The police noted that the Ulta Store in Lower Paxton "has been the target of multiple out-of-state organized retail theft rings over the last two years." 

to follow Daily Voice Dauphin and receive free news updates.

SCROLL TO NEXT ARTICLE