Crime & Safety

Accused Thief Struck Grocery Store Manager with Car: Police

Michelle D. Matthews, 40, of Chicago, was charged with aggravated battery and retail theft, police said. She reportedly ran into a store manager with a car.

The manager of an Evergreen Park grocery store was struck by a car driven by a woman he was trying to stop from stealing groceries, police said.

Michelle D. Matthews, 40, of the 9700 block of South Charles Avenue, Chicago, is accused of striking a manager at Pete's Market, 3720 W. 95th Street, with her car on Aug. 26, Evergreen Park police said. She was charged with felony aggravated battery and misdemeanor retail theft.

Matthews left the store with $50.01 worth of groceries she hadn't paid for when the manager followed her out to her car, police said. The driver then fled the scene after striking the man.

A customer noticed that Matthews had placed a dozen items into her cart and walked out of the store at about 4 p.m., police said. When the customer told store staff, the manager chased down Matthews in time to see her put the groceries in the trunk of her car.

The manager didn't appear to be seriously hurt, police said. He had to push himself off the car's hood at one point during the incident.

Cops tracked Matthews down near the intersection of 87th and Rockwell streets a short time later, police said. Officers found the groceries in the car she was driving.

Bail was set at $50,00 for the Chicago woman. She is due on Sept. 17 in Bridgeview court.


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