Coldwater,MI : Woman crashes into Walmart; suspect in break-in on May,Saturday 19th 2018

Branch County Sheriff deputies will seek multiple charges after a 37year-old local woman, also a suspect in a theft, drove her Ford SUV 50 feet into the Coldwater Walmart through the east entrance doors early Saturday morning.

Branch County Undersheriff Keith Eichler said the incident started around 7:30 a.m. when deputies answered a break-in alarm at Rick’s Party Store on Angola Road, just south of Garfield.

Deputies found that the front door had been damaged and glass broken to enter the business. A search found the suspect gone, but it appeared items were taken. There was also some blood located on the premises.

During the investigation a call came from an employee of the Speedway gas station, on the corner of Chicago Street and Willowbrook Road, about a woman in the store acting strangely with cuts on her hands. Dispatchers suspected she may have been involved in the break-in at Rick’s Party Store.

Before Coldwater Police or deputies could respond, the witness said the woman drove off, heading east on US12.

One deputy left the scene to assist the dispatched Coldwater Police officers, while another deputy secured the crime scene.

As the deputy, Coldwater Police, and Michigan State Police troopers converged on the area, the deputy in the Walmart parking loy spotted the suspect’s SUV disappearing into the east entrance of the building.

Officers rushed the scene, taking her into custody after she stopped inside the store near the pharmacy. She was alone in the vehicle.

The officers did locate a Walmart customer who had a minor injury from the car entering the building. The injured person refused medical treatment after being examined by Life- Care.


The deputy transported the woman driver to ProMedica Coldwater Regional Hospital for injuries and she was admitted for treatment.

Undersheriff Eichler said, “This incident remains under investigation at this time, and charges are pending. The suspect’s name is being withheld as of this time pending court action.”

Walmart was forced to use only its west entrance until repairs could be made. This comes after a week when heavy rains left the Walmart parking lot with a large pool of water in its center because drainage basins were unable to handle the storm run off.

Source :
Woman crashes into Walmart; suspect in break-in