Grocery theft turns into demolition derby

By MEGAN PILLOW Mooresville Tribune Wednesday, August 27, 2008

A Mooresville woman was jailed Monday after she stole a cart full of groceries from a grocery store and then ran her car into several vehicles in the parking lot, say Mooresville police.

Interim Chief Carl Robbins said police received a call about 2 p.m. about a fight in the parking lot of Lowe’s Foods at the corner of Brawley School Road and Williamson Road.

When officers arrived, they found Crystal Tanner Waldrop, 38, arguing with the store’s manager, Robbins said.

According to witnesses, Waldrop had filled her cart with items and left the store without paying for them.

“She had piled hundreds of dollars worth of everything from meats to potted plants in it,” said Robbins. “Apparently, she just rolled this huge buggy of stuff out the door.”

The store manager, said Robbins, ran after her and attempted to stop her, but “she basically attacked him.”

An officer, said Robbins, reached in Waldrop’s car and tried to remove the keys, but Waldrop backed into his squad car and ran into several other vehicles in the parking lot in an attempt to escape.

Robbins said Waldrop’s car then ran over a curb, knocked down a light and a stop sign, and hit a tree before finally pulling onto Williamson Road, where she hit another vehicle.

Finally, she realized she was running on flat tires and pulled over, putting her hands up through the sunroof, Robbins said.

No one was injured during the incident, he said.

Waldrop was arrested and charged with two counts of assault, one count of assault on a law enforcement officer with a deadly weapon (in this case, her car), speeding to elude, five counts of hit and run, one count of careless and reckless driving, one count of larceny, driving while her license was revoked, improper passing, and driving while subject to an impairing substance (DWI).

“Believe me, alcohol was involved,” said Robbins.

Waldrop was being held Tuesday on $50,000 bond.