Junk Food Theft Triggers Chase, Crash

PLEASANT RIDGE – Potato chips, cookies, beef jerky, a couple fruit-flavored drinks, energy bars and candy – stolen goods valued at $26.29.

That alleged theft from a convenience store during the wee hours Tuesday morning touched off a police chase that ended with a carload of young girls crashing, leaving a 12-year-old girl in critical condition and hurting two others. Now criminal charges are pending against the girls, including the 16-year-old driver.

Cincinnati police internal investigators are also scrutinizing whether the officer followed proper procedures in the pursuit and in the officer’s attempt to use a Taser on the teen driver who allegedly tried to flee after the crash, police said. “They’re looking into all aspects of this incident,” said Sgt. Dennis Swingley, Cincinnati police spokesman.