Suspected Shoplifter Arrested after Wal-Mart Guard Is Struck in Illinois

Oct. 13, 2004
Guard was struck while chasing fleeing suspect

Police arrested a Collinsville, Ill. man they said struck a Wal-Mart security guard Tuesday with his vehicle while he was trying to escape with items he took from the store.

The suspect, whose identity was being withheld pending charges, remained in the custody of the Glen Carbon Police. The injured guard, whose name was not released, was listed to be in stable condition Tuesday evening at a local hospital, Police Chief Dave Bradford said.

About noon Tuesday, a man in his 20s suspected of retail theft from the Glen Carbon Wal-Mart, 400 Junction Drive, fled from the store's security personnel. The guards chased the suspect across the parking lot, and he got into an unoccupied vehicle on the west end of the parking lot, police said.

As he was driving off, the suspect hit a security guard and three parked cars, Bradford said.

A police officer in the area caught sight of the suspect's reckless driving in the parking lot but did not know what had happened. As the officer was attempted to pull over the vehicle for a traffic stop, he got a call about the pursuit of a possible shoplifter from Wal-Mart, Bradford said.

The suspect gunned the engine, but then apparently thought better about trying to escape and pulled over, Bradford said.

After the suspect's arrest, a portion of the parking lot was closed off for several hours while officers from Illinois State Police Crime Scene and Accident Reconstruction along with the Glen Carbon Police investigated the scene.

Bradford said all the stolen items were recovered when the suspect was arrested. He would not disclose what was taken.

"I am confident that felony charges will be filed through the state's attorney's office," Bradford said.

Wal-Mart spokesman Christi Gallagher referred all comments to the Glen Carbon Police while the investigation continues.