Police were rushed to Wal Mart Jan. 5 because store security workers were chasing an alleged shoplifter.

The employees said the man who reportedly stole more than $150 worth of items left in a truck pulling a boat.

The officers spotted the vehicle and made a traffic stop in the parking lot of Ryan’s restaurant.

The 31-year-old man accused of the theft was seen by officers curled up on the floorboard as he tried to hide.

He and the driver were removed from the truck and were patted down.

A small bag of marijuana was reportedly found in the pocket of the suspect.

The driver of the truck said he was waiting in the Auto Zone parking lot waiting for his wife to finish with a doctor’s appointment at an adjacent office when the suspect — a man he knows — walked up and asked for a ride to Walgreens.

He obliged.

That is when police stopped the truck.

It was also leaned the suspect’s wife was being held at Wal Mart for allegedly trying to steal perfume.

Maryville pursuit

An officer initiated a traffic stop on a speeding vehicle on South Island Road Jan. 5 and the driver of the Toyota Camry pulled off the road in front of Screven Baptist Church.

The officer did not feel it was safe to conduct the stop at that location because of the volume of traffic, so he used his vehicle’s PA system to tell the driver to pull to a side street. He repeated the command several times but instead of obeying, the driver sped away.

The officer gave chase as the driver of the fleeing vehicle — a 19-year-old Georgetown man — drove in both lanes, forcing some cars off the road.

At speeds of 60 mph, the chase continued until they reached the 2400 block of South Island Road.

That’s when the driver lost control and wrecked in the front yard of a residence.

The driver then jumped out and ran, ignoring orders from the officer to stop.

He hid in some bushes and was arrested by the officer.

Small bags of crack cocaine and marijuana were found in the area the man was hiding.

He was charged with failure to stop for a blue light, reckless driving, driving under suspension, obstructing police, trafficking cocaine and the intent to distribute marijuana.

Must have been bored

A man was spotted inside the Laundromat at the corner of Church and Cleland Streets exposing himself at about 10 a.m. Jan. 5.

A witness told police when he looked over, he saw the man committing a solo sex act.

When customers confronted the suspect, he left and was seen walking towards the courthouse.

He was not found by police.

Stolen vehicle

A man whose vehicle was stolen from Martin Street in Maryville admitted he left the car unlocked because he thought it was a safe neighborhood.

He said the 2003 Cadillac was taken while he was visiting his brother.

The victim — an Andrews man — said he does not have any girlfriends or enemies who would have taken the car.

Coke coins stolen

An employee of Howard Homes on Highmarket Street arrived at work Friday and saw the Coca-Cola machine in the front of the office was unplugged and parts of the device were on the ground.

About $20 worth of change was taken.

Police reviewed surveillance camera video in an effort to identify a suspect.

Sibling stealing

A 51-year-old Georgetown man said his digital camera was stolen while he was at a family function on Emanuel Street Jan. 7.

He said he later found out his 43-year-old sister took the camera and sold it.

The man said he believes his sister has a drug problem and sold the camera for money to buy crack cocaine.

The preceding reports, compiled by Scott Harper, were collected  from local law enforcement offices.