Three 60-year-olds in Mansfield, Texas, are facing multiple charges after allegedly stealing $1,500 worth of items from a local Target. They are also accused of leading police on a chase with a stolen car, which ended in a crash.
As reported by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, citing the Mansfield Police Department, the incident occurred on Monday, June 8. At around 8 p.m., MPD officers responded to a local Target, located on N. U.S. 287 Frontage Road.
Upon arrival, officers learned that a man had shoplifted a number of unspecified Target items, police said. As per FOX 4, authorities determined that two other men were waiting in a gray Toyota Camry.
Witnesses provided a description of the Camry in question to the police. As a result, the MPD deployed a drone to locate the vehicle.
Stolen Vehicle Located
Thanks to the drone, the MPD located the Camry. Two out of the three suspects were inside, while the third one, who is the one who grabbed the items, stayed at the Target and was detained, police said.
Once the vehicle was found, however, the MPD made another discovery. According to the department, the vehicle had been reported stolen from Richardson earlier in the day.
Officers then attempted to conduct a traffic stop. However, the driver allegedly refused to comply, triggering a pursuit.
Pursuit Ends in Crash
The pursuit began in Mansfield and quickly moved to Dallas. However, the chase stopped as a result of the collision.
Reportedly, the Camry crashed into a Chevrolet Suburban in the 3900 block of Interstate 20. The vehicle had stopped at I-20 as it had been involved in an unrelated accident.
Thankfully, the occupants of the Suburban were not inside the vehicle once the Camry crashed into it, as they were exchanging information with the other party involved. No injuries were reported.
Arrested and Charged, Merchandise Stolen
The suspects’ identities were made public. According to the police, the Camry’s driver is 65-year-old Nelson Murray, the vehicle’s passenger is 62-year-old Willie McNealy, and the man detained inside the Target is 63-year-old Erwin Roland.
McNealy and Roland are charged with engaging in organized retail theft. Murray, meanwhile, is charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, evading arrest with a vehicle, and engaging in organized retail theft.
Investigators cited by FOX 4 detailed that $393.91 worth of Target items were allegedly recovered from Roland. Then, inside the vehicle, police said they found $1,192.62 in additional merchandise.
No mugshots were provided by the MPD.