The suspect was spotted by citizens in the parking lot of the Bridgewater Falls Target store at about 4:30 p.m. Saturday loading stolen televisions into a white van, according to Fairfield Twp. police.
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Officer Roger Gilbert was on patrol on Ohio 4 when he saw a vehicle matching the description of the van, said Fairfield Police Chief Matt Fruchey. When Gilbert stopped the van at Fairway Drive near Waldon Ponds, driver Shauna Maria Maco remained in the vehicle, but the passenger, Gabbard, fled.
The officer gave chase around a house and Gabbard doubled back, jumped in the cruiser and took off, according to police.
Gabbard drove the cruiser to Hamilton where he ditched it on Central Avenue near Hanover Street and robbed a person outside a barber shop, Fruchey said.
Maco, 46, of Hamilton, was charged with complicity to theft, and is housed in the Butler County Jail.
Fruchey said the cruiser was not damaged and the incident remains under investigation. The stolen televisions were found in the van.
Butler County Sheriff Richard K. Jones also made note of the arrest, with his tweet: “Good job Hamilton PD.”
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