By Patrick M. Walker
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
LUFKIN, Texas — A 33-year-old East Texas woman remained in the Angelina County Jail on Sunday, a day after she allegedly took a police SUV after being arrested and led authorities on a 20-mile high-speed chase.
Toscha Fay Sponsler had been handcuffed and placed in the back of the police SUV after being detained on suspicion of shoplifting. While the two officers searched her belongings, KTRE-TV reported, Sponsler escaped out of one of the handcuffs and crawled through the sliding partition. She then took control of the car and drove off.
A chase involving numerous law enforcement agencies went on for about 20 miles late Saturday afternoon before a state trooper managed to spin her out, according to The Associated Press.
Officers reported seeing her reaching for a shotgun locked inside the unit, CBS 19 reported.
The incident ended with no serious injuries, authorities said, and Sponsler was taken to jail. She faces two first-degree felony charges and three state-jail felony charges. Total bail was set at $18,000, according to the Angelina County Jail website.
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