A wild police pursuit that began in the Walmart parking lot and ended deep in the woods may be connected to yet another car theft just hours later at a local Speedway.
It all started when a woman spotted her previously stolen vehicle parked at the South Point Walmart and called police — telling dispatch her own son was the suspected car thief.
Patrolman Woodyard with the South Point Police Department responded and approached the vehicle, but the suspect sped off, nearly striking the officer. A high-speed chase followed onto U.S. 52, with the driver reportedly hitting 95 mph, weaving through traffic, and even driving on the wrong side of the road.
The chase continued onto Tallow Ridge (County Road 124), where the suspect eventually vanished into the woods. Officers, including Cpl. Orsbon, Dep. Shope, Ptl. Landon Johnson, and additional units, joined the search after locating a damaged tree and the abandoned vehicle.
When officers approached the car, the suspect bolted again — this time on foot into the dense woods. Ptl. Woodyard attempted to use a Taser, but the suspect got away. Officers called in backup, including Ptl. Jordan and his K9 unit from Ironton PD, along with Sgt. Sisler and a drone unit. After nearly an hour of searching in the heat, the K9 began to overheat, and officers were forced to call off the hunt.
The vehicle was recovered, photographed by Dep. Barker, and towed from the scene. The mother was notified, and the car was removed from the NCIC stolen vehicle database.
Then, another car went missing.
The next morning, deputies were dispatched to the Speedway on County Road 406 for a report of a stolen 2012 white Ford Focus. A woman told police she stopped at the store for a few quick items and came out to find her car gone.
The store clerk recalled a shirtless man in khaki shorts who had bought a Gatorade and sat outside the store. Another customer came in moments later to report that the man had just stolen a car.
That description rang a bell.
The shirtless man in khaki shorts matched the suspect from the previous day’s chase — last seen running into the woods just a few hundred yards from where this second vehicle was taken.
Authorities believe the suspect may have remained in the wooded area overnight and emerged to steal another car.
Police say they plan to review surveillance video from Speedway to confirm the suspect’s identity and have entered the second car into the NCIC as stolen.
As of now, the man remains at large.
