Officer Injured in Shoplifting Pursuit

A Mount Pleasant police officer was injured Wednesday while pursuing three shoplifting suspects from Mount Pleasant Towne Centre, according to a police spokesman.

The officer was struck by the supects' vehicle as they attempted to flee the Hwy. 17 outdoor shopping complex, according to police Maj. Stan Gragg. The women had been reported as stealing items from multiple stores when the officer approached the suspects.

"The officer approached three subjects fitting the description provided by store employees and after a brief encounter the suspects jumped into their vehicle and intentionally struck the officer and fled the scene," Gragg said.

The officer was taken to MUSC hospital for treatment. Police pursued the vehicle down Coleman Blvd. all the way to North Charleston at Rivers and Montague avenues.

"The officer approached three subjects fitting the description provided by store employees and after a brief encounter the suspects jumped into their vehicle and intentionally struck the officer and fled the scene," Gragg said.

Three women were all arrested after their vehicle crashed, according to reports. Officers reportedly used spike strips to flatten the vehicle's tires. It crashed into a garage on Morningside Drive and officers placed the suspects, described as black women in their 20s, in custody.