MANSFIELD, Texas — Three suspects were arrested Monday after a reported shoplifting incident at a Mansfield Target led police on a pursuit involving a stolen vehicle, authorities said.
Mansfield police officers responded at approximately 3:02 p.m. on June 8 to a reported shoplifting in progress at the Target store located at 1801 N. U.S. 287 Frontage Road.
According to police, the reporting party provided a description of the suspect vehicle. The Mansfield Police Department's Drone as First Responder (DFR) program was deployed and successfully located the vehicle, allowing officers to obtain its license plate number. Communications personnel determined the vehicle had been reported stolen earlier that day in Richardson.
When officers arrived, the suspect vehicle refused to stop and fled, prompting a police pursuit. Investigators later determined that two suspects were inside the vehicle while a third suspect remained inside the Target store.
The chase ended in the 3900 block of Interstate 20 in Dallas when the suspect vehicle crashed into a white Chevrolet Suburban that was stopped on the shoulder following an unrelated traffic accident. Police said the occupants of the Suburban were outside their vehicle exchanging information at the time of the collision.
The suspect vehicle, a gray Toyota Camry, was occupied by driver Nelson Murray, 65, and passenger Willie McNealy, 62. A third suspect, Erwin Roland, 63, was detained at the Target store.
Murray was charged with Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle, Evading Arrest with a Vehicle, and Engaging in Organized Retail Theft. McNealy and Roland were each charged with Engaging in Organized Retail Theft.
Police said Roland was found in possession of $383.91 worth of stolen merchandise at the time of his arrest. Officers also recovered an additional $1,192.63 in stolen merchandise from the suspect vehicle.
All three suspects were arrested and transported to the Mansfield Jail without further incident.
No injuries were reported.
The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact Tri-County Auto Theft Task Force Investigator Joe Bourget at joe.bourget@mansfieldtexas.gov or 817-473-0211.
