Fleeing Shoplifters Cause Crash, Get Caught In Foot Chase: Cops

ORLAND PARK, IL — The Orland Park Police Department said a pair of fleeing shoplifters caused a multi-vehicle car crash at around 6 p.m. Monday after an officer attempted a traffic stop on what they called a suspicious vehicle. Police said they later discovered the driver had stolen more than $600 worth of merchandise from the Walgreens store at 7960 159th St.

According to police, an officer saw a suspicious vehicle parked in the Walgreens parking lot. Police said shortly after the officer spotted it, the vehicle then left the parking lot northbound on 80th Avenue.

Police said the officer was able to follow the car onto westbound 151st Street, where police said the driver committed a traffic violation. As the car pulled up to a red light at 94th Avenue, the officer activated his emergency lights in order to conduct a traffic stop, police said.

According to police, while the light was still red, the driver tried to flee westbound and hit a car that was going southbound through the green light on 94th avenue. The suspect car then veered into oncoming traffic and collided head-on with another Orland Park squad car that was stopped eastbound on 151st at the red light at 94th Avenue, police said.

Police said when the car crashed, the two people inside got out and fled on foot. Orland Park officers, including the officer whose vehicle was hit by the drivers, pursued them on foot, according to police. After a short foot chase, both offenders were taken into custody, police said.

According to police, the Orland Fire Protection District came to aid those involved in the crash. The occupants of the first car that was hit were treated at the scene and released, police said. The officer involved in the crash was taken to Silver Cross Hospital for minor injuries and later released, according to police.

Police said the driver of the suspect car was identified as Robyn Johnson, 34, of Palos Park and the passenger was identified as McCray Briscoe-Bright, 33, of Chicago. Both were transported to the police department, where a small amount of suspected heroin was located on Johnson, police said.

The road was closed down for several hours in order for the Orland Park Traffic Unit to investigate, police said.

According to police, the investigation revealed that Johnson committed a retail theft at the Walgreens where the car was first seen. Officers said they located $624 worth of cosmetic items along with some cannabis in her vehicle.

Police said Bright was charged with resisting an officer. According to police, Johnson was charged with the following:

• Aggravated Fleeing and Eluding (Class 4 Felony)
• Possession of a Controlled Substance (Class 4 Felony)
• Resisting a Police Officer (Class A Misdemeanor)
• Retail Theft (Class A Misdemeanor)
• Unlawful Possession of Adult Use Cannabis in a Motor Vehicle (Class A Misdemeanor)
• No Valid Driver’s License (Class A Misdemeanor)

She also received numerous traffic citations.

Police said Johnson and Bright were transported to the Bridgeview Courthouse where bond was set at $10,000 for Johnson, while Bright’s bond was not available yet.

All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law