Springfield Woman Steals SUV with Teen, Infant Sleeping Inside
The teenager asked the suspect, identified as 23-year-old Tamela Trice of Springfield, to let the pair out of the vehicle, but she continued driving.
(SPRINGFIELD, Ore. ) — Police in Springfield, Oregon arrested a woman Saturday afternoon after she stole a SUV with a 17-year-old and 2-year-old sleeping inside.
Springfield police say officers were called to the Safeway on Main Street just before 4:00 p.m. on the report of a stolen vehicle. The suspect, fled the scene in a SUV and at one point the 17-year-old male woke up, and was startled to see someone other than his mother was driving the SUV.
The teenager asked the suspect, identified as 23-year-old Tamela Trice of Springfield, to let the pair out of the vehicle, but she continued driving.
A short time later, Trice crashed into a fence in the Coin Laundry parking lot at 5126 Main St. She exited the vehicle, but wiped the steering wheel attempting to remove fingerprints.
The 17-year-old used his cell phone to take a quick picture of the suspect which officers used later to confirm Trice was the suspect.
He then quickly got into the driver’s seat and drove the SUV back to Safeway.
Two alert citizens observed Trice enter the SUV, and thought something wasn’t right.
When officers arrived they pointed out a green minivan that they believed belonged to the suspect.
Officers used that information to locate the suspect at 4888 Daisy St. She was intoxicated a resisted their efforts to arrest her.
The citizens were driven to the scene and positively identified Trice as the suspect.
No one was injured during the incident.
A Springfield Police Detective responded to assist with the investigation.
A search warrant was obtained for blood evidence in regards to the DUII because Trice refused a breath test.
Trice was lodged at the Lane County Jail on two counts of Kidnapping in the First Degree, Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle, Resisting Arrest, Driving Under the Influence, and two counts of Reckless Endangering.
