A high-speed police pursuit that began with a shoplifting report in Berks County ended more than 75 miles away in York County when state police disabled the fleeing SUV occupied by three Baltimore residents by placing spike strips on a highway, authorities said.
Francsola D. Rice, 39, was arrested after climbing from the driver’s seat of the disabled Audi SUV following the crash last weekend on Interstate 83 in York, according to court documents. Two other occupants were taken into custody by troopers from York and Lancaster counties.
Rice was charged by state police in York with aggravated assault by vehicle, fleeing or attempting to elude officers, hit-and-run, driving without a license and using fraudulent registration plates, along with traffic violations. She was committed to York County Prison in lieu of $25,000 bail following arraignment Monday before District Judge James H. Morgan.
In addition to the York County charges stemming from the pursuit, Rice faces felony retail theft and conspiracy charges in Berks County in connection with a Feb. 28 shoplifting at the Ulta Beauty store in the Broadcasting Square shopping center in Spring Township.
Co-defendants Stan K. Davis, 33, and Lashawnda Edwards, 32, were arraigned Tuesday night before District Judge Colleen Dugan Schearer in Reading Central Court and committed to Berks County Jail in lieu of $50,000 bail each on felony counts of retail theft, conspiracy and receiving stolen property. Edwards was released Wednesday after posting bail, according to online court records.
According to probable cause affidavits:
Spring police were dispatched to Ulta about 4:30 p.m. Feb. 28 for a report of a retail theft in progress. Witnesses told officers that two women and a man fled the store carrying tote bags filled with thousands of dollars worth of stolen fragrances. They were seen getting into a black Audi SUV with a temporary paper license plate and heading toward Paper Mill Road.
Police reviewed pole-mounted traffic camera footage and saw the Audi traveling east on Paper Mill Road from the Broadcasting Road intersection. A countywide “stop and hold” alert was issued. Shortly afterward, a Wyomissing police officer spotted the SUV on Paper Mill Road near Berkshire Boulevard and followed it onto Route 222 southbound. The officer lost sight of the vehicle near the Route 724 interchange because of its high speed.
A witness provided cellphone video of the suspects and the vehicle. Store surveillance footage showed the trio taking more than 30 bottles of fragrance valued at more than $5,000 and placing them into orange-and-white tote bags before running from the store. The male suspect wore a ski mask, and the two female suspects wore hijabs and sunglasses.
About 30 minutes after the alert was issued, a trooper positioned on Interstate 83 in York County spotted the Audi traveling about 115 mph. When the trooper activated his car’s emergency lights and siren, the driver — later identified as Rice — accelerated and used the shoulder to pass vehicles, police said.
Troopers set up spike strips farther south on I-83. After the Audi’s tires were punctured, Rice lost control and the SUV crashed into another vehicle, injuring at least one occupant of the other vehicle. Information on the extent of injuries was unavailable.
Around 5:30 p.m., troopers in York notified Spring police that all three suspects had been taken into custody at the crash scene. Rice was found in the driver’s seat, Edwards in the front passenger seat and Davis in the rear. The stolen merchandise was in plain view inside the SUV, investigators said.