By Bob Downing
Akron Beacon Journal
AKRON, Ohio — An Akron man was jailed after leading police on an unusual chase through the Walmart parking lot in Macedonia.
The incident began about 11:30 p.m. Saturday when Macedonia police patrolman Chris Neal drove by the Walmart store, where store security reported that two people had pushed out a grocery cart filled with items without paying.
Neal said he pulled up and started talking to Kevin Moultry, 45, while a woman companion walked away and disappeared.
The officer said he looked in the car, which belonged to Moultry’s relative, and saw steaks, shrimp and lobster tails in the back seat and on the floor.
Moultry then took off running to the west toward Macedonia Commons Boulevard and was pursued by Neal, according to police.
Moultry doubled back after several hundred yards on foot and then jumped in the driver’s seat of the police cruiser, Neal said. The window was down and Neal and Moultry struggled.
The officer said he used his Taser on Moultry but it was not effective because of the winter coat Moultry was wearing.
Moultry managed to shift the cruiser into drive, despite Neal’s efforts to stop him, according to the officer. The cruiser lurched forward with Neal three-fourths out of it and struck the rear of the vehicle with the stolen items.
Neal said he turned off the ignition while Moultry struck him in the face two or three times.
Moultry then climbed over Neal’s computer between the front seats and climbed out the passenger side of the cruiser, the officer said. Moultry ran toward Macedonia Commons Boulevard before again doubling back and running into the Walmart store.
Neal called for help.
Moultry left his jacket in the store, came outside and started running away from the store, according to police.
The suspect then ran through the parking lot and went around a parked vehicle into the path of a police cruiser coming to Neal’s aid.
The cruiser, which struck Moultry, was going 10 to 15 miles per hour in the parking lot and was driven by Macedonia patrolman Michael Plese, Neal said.
Moultry was taken to Hillcrest Hospital in Mayfield Heights where he was treated for a broken finger and a sprained knee. He was later transferred to the Summit County Jail.
Moultry was charged with theft, aggravated robbery, grand theft auto, assault on a police officer, resisting arrest and obstructing official business.
Neal said he suffered a fat lip and some sore ribs.
Neal, a patrolman for 17 years, admitted it was an unusual arrest.
“Oh, yeah,” he said. He said it appeared that Moultry was “highly intoxicated.”
Copyright 2015 the Akron Beacon Journal