Crime spree started at Target, ended with stolen police car

A weekend crime spree started with a man allegedly stealing televisions from Target and ended just after he stole a police cruiser.

Shoppers called police at about 4:30 p.m. Saturday to report a man in the Target parking lot at Bridgewater Falls loading stolen televisions into a white van, according to Fairfield Twp. police.

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, the driver remained in the vehicle, but the passenger, later identified as Kevin Gabbard, 37, of Dorsey Road in Hamilton, fled.

The officer chased Gabbard around a house before the suspect doubled back, jumped in the police cruiser and took off, according to police.

Gabbard drove the police vehicle to Hamilton, where he ditched it on Central Avenue near Hanover Street.

There, he robbed a person outside a barber shop, Fruchey said.

According to Hamilton police, Gabbard jumped out of the police cruiser and told a man he was an undercover police officer before robbing him of cash.

About 24 hours later, at 5:05 p.m. Sunday, Gabbard allegedly carjacked another vehicle with people inside, according to police reports.

Gabbard used a screwdriver to force himself into a vehicle with two people inside on Franklin Street, according to a police report.

He then fled from that car and spotted another vehicle, demanded the keys and drove off, police said.

The vehicle was involved in a crash and Gabbard was taken into custody, according to police.

Gabbard is charged with two counts of aggravated robbery, two counts of robbery and two counts of kidnapping and impersonating a police officer.

During a court appearance Monday morning, his bond was set at $600,000.

The driver of the van, Shauna Maria Maco, 46, of Hamilton, was charged with complicity to theft and is housed in the Butler County Jail.

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