The arrest of an accused Walmart shoplifter turned into a police chase Friday after the man carjacked a person in the store's parking lot to escape police, Dallas police said.
The incident began at 2:40 p.m. after an off-duty Dallas police officer arrested a man suspected of shoplifting at the Walmart located at Interstate 30 and Cockrell Hill. While the officer was doing the paperwork inside the store's loss prevention office, the man slipped out of the handcuffs and fled the store on foot, police said.
The officer gave chase into the parking lot where the man jumped into a vehicle that was idling and fled with the 24-year-old occupant still inside, police said. That man was dropped off a short time later at Hale and Bond Street and the carjacker continued onto Loop 12 where police said officers spotted him and attempted to pursue him, but lost him shortly thereafter.
The man wrecked the red Dodge Dakota into a ravine at Singleton and Loop 12 and then fled on foot. Officers set up a perimeter as they searched for the man.
Police said they do know the man's name and address because the officer at the Walmart had his driver's license.
