FORT WAYNE, Ind. (ADAMS) – The Fort Wayne Police Department says officers were sent to the Thomas Road Target on Thursday after reports of shoplifting.
The FWPD said officers arrived quickly and saw the described suspects getting away.
Police attempted to stop that vehicle but a chase ensued. After three hours, FWPD officers and those with multiple other agencies wound up trying to safely get the suspects out of a wooded area that was extremely hazardous.
The FWPD released the following account of what happened:
On Thursday, November 21st, around 7 pm, officers with the Fort Wayne Police Department (FWPD) responded to Target, 1102 S. Thomas Rd., reference unwanted persons. Target personnel saw individuals that had previously stolen items from the store. Upon the FWPD’s arrival, they saw a vehicle being driven by the subjects in question. A traffic stop was attempted; however, the vehicle did not stop and a vehicle pursuit ensued. The pursuit lasted around 10 minutes. It, however, was terminated because of high speeds and weather conditions.
The pursuit covered parts of the southwest and northwest Fort Wayne and parts of Northwest Allen County. As the pursuit occurred, a detective with the FWPD’s Street Crimes Unit informed pursuing officers that the suspects were Sarah Harris and Jeremy Hollis. Also, that they had active arrest warrants from other states, all related to department store thefts, and that our agency had felony probable causes for their arrest for Corrupt Business Influence and theft.
Minutes later, a suspicious vehicle call was entered near the intersection of Felger Rd. and US 33. The description given matched the previously pursued vehicle. Officers investigated the suspicious vehicle and discovered that it was the vehicle that fled from them. The vehicle was unoccupied, and footprints were seen leading from the vehicle to the dense woods.
Officers with the FWPD, Allen County Police Department (ACPD), and Indiana State Police (ISP) entered the woods and searched for the suspects. Around 30 minutes later, officers found the suspects underneath brush, in a hole. They were apprehended. Sarah Harris appeared disoriented. Officers asked the other suspect, Hollis, if he knew what medical condition Harris had and replied that she had seizures. Soon after, Harris added that she also ingested an unknown drug. The situation worsened because of Harris’ condition, the weather, and the snow-covered and swampy dense terrain. Officers started life-saving measures to help Harris. Harris and Hollis were dressed inadequately for the weather.
The Northwest Allen County Fire and Medics, other FWPD, ACPD, and ISP officers – with the assistance of the FWPD Air Support Unit – entered the woods and attempted to find the location were the officers and Harris were. It took approximately 30 minutes to find them because of the darkness and treacherous terrain. Upon contact, medics quickly attended to Harris. She was unconscious. It took around 50 minutes to exit the woods.
Hollis was taken to the Fort Wayne Police Department to be interviewed. Harris was taken to a nearby hospital in serious condition. The following day, she was medically released and taken to the Allen County Jail. This incident remains under investigation by the Fort Wayne Police Department and the Allen County Prosecutor’s Office.
All agencies and units involved cooperated amazingly to save and apprehend Harris and Hollis.
Suspect Arrested #1: Sarah Harris, 34 yo
Preliminary Charges:
One count of level 5 Felony Corrupt Business Influence
Two counts of Level 6 Felony Theft
Three counts of Level 6 Felony Organized Retail Theft
One count of Level 6 Felony Resisting Law Enforcement (Fleeing Vehicle)
One count of C. Misdemeanor Reckless Driving (High Speed)
One count of B. Misdemeanor Leaving the scene of an accident (Property Damage)
Suspect Arrested #2: Jeremy Hollis, 32 yo
Preliminary Charges:
One count of level 5 Felony Corrupt Business Influence
Three counts of Level 6 Felony Theft
Three counts of Level 6 Felony Organized Retail Theft
Harris has 11 outstanding warrants for her arrest. Eight are from Minnesota, two from Ohio, and one out of Wisconsin.
Hollis has two outstanding warrants for his arrest, both from of Ohio. At this point, it is not known if the warrants are extraditable.
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