Tuscola police arrest two suspects following two-county pursuit

Two suspects were arrested and one female remains at large following a vehicle pursuit from the Tuscola outlet mall, according to a press release from Tuscola Police Department.

At 7:03 p.m. Tuscola police were dispatched to Carter’s at the Tuscola outlet mall in reference to a grab and run shoplifting report, according to TPD.

Carter’s employees reported two females entered the store, grabbed several items of clothing, and ran to a vehicle waiting outside the store. Tuscola police located the vehicle as it left the mall on Progress Boulevard and traveled to the northbound ramp of Interstate 57.

Police engaged in a pursuit of the vehicle at speeds more than 100 mph, the release said.

“The vehicle drove off of the roadway at the 217 mile marker, and when it returned to the roadway the lights were turned off as it continued northbound,” the release said. “The driver turned the lights back on and exited onto Interstate 72. At one point the vehicle was traveling west in the eastbound lanes of I-72. The driver made a U-turn on I-72 and drove directly at Tuscola police vehicle. Tuscola police drove into the median to avoid a collision with the fleeing vehicle.”

The suspects entered Champaign from University Avenue, and, with TPD still pursuit, the driver of the fleeing lost control of his vehicle and crashed into a concrete barrier wall at the intersection of University and Prospect avenues.

One female passenger was apprehended by Tuscola police near the crash site, while one female remains at large.

The three suspects are from the St. Louis area.