Ohio woman facing charges for shoplifting, police chase, child endangerment
May 8—SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP — An Akron woman was arrested over the weekend after shoplifting from the outlet mall and leading authorities on a chase while three children were unsecured in the vehicle.
Shamarr B. Gatlin, 32, remains in Mercer County Jail following the Sunday evening incident at Grove City Premium Outlets, 1911 Leesburg-Grove City Road, Springfield Township, state police said.
Police were dispatched around 6 p.m. to the Nike store, where a manager reported that two women with a baby were shoplifting, according to the criminal complaint.
When police arrived, the two women fled the scene in a black Dodge Caravan with Ohio plates.
An unmarked state police cruiser turned on its emergency lights in an attempt to make a traffic stop that was unsuccessful.
The van was speeding and led multiple emergency vehicles on a chase for several miles, finally stopping near the Interstate 80 westbound ramp, where authorities used a PIT maneuver to stop the van.
While Gatlin was being taken into custody, police noticed that there were no back seats in the van to secure the children with her: a 9-year-old boy, 3-year-old girl and 8-month-old girl.
She is accused of stealing two hooded sweatshirts, two pairs of sweatpants, four T-shirts and four pairs of shorts from the Nike store.
Police did not indicate whether the other woman would be facing charges.
Gatlin was charged Monday by state police with fleeing or attempting to elude officer, retail theft, driving with a suspended or revoked license, stop sign violation, failure to obey traffic control devices, disregarding traffic lane, failure of the driver and passenger to use seatbelts, three counts of failure to use child restraint system and endangering the welfare of children and four counts each of recklessly endangering another person.
Gatlin was scheduled to be arraigned Monday afternoon by District Judge Daniel W. Davis, Mercer, with a preliminary hearing set for May 22.
She was sent to Mercer County Jail on $50,000 bond.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Suspects are to be considered innocent until proven or adjudicated guilty in court.
