Women batter deputy and escape with stolen merchandise

Two women who stole an unknown amount of merchandise from the Winn-Dixie Marketplace in the 3500 block of US-1 North are being sought on retail theft charges. However, Historic City News has learned that they will also be charged with battery on a law enforcement officer, who they attacked in the parking lot.

At about 5:30 p.m. this evening, a Winn-Dixie employee notified a uniformed deputy that two women had been shoplifting, and that they had just left the grocery store.

“The deputy, who was off-duty, spotted the women getting into a gold colored Chevrolet sedan in the parking lot and ordered them to stop,” Kelshaw told reporters. “The driver pulled away; accelerating through the parking lot, while dragging the deputy, still half inside the vehicle, for about 40-feet.”

The driver of the getaway car was a black female, in her 50’s and heavy set, wearing a white tank top and carrying a large blue purse. The passenger was a black female, in her 40’s and was wearing a long blue and black multi-colored dress.

The women were last seen driving southbound from the Winn Dixie parking lot on Ponce de Leon Boulevard (US-1).

The deputy sustained minor injuries and treated at the scene.

Anyone with any information concerning the identity of these individuals is asked to contact Detective Samantha English at the Sheriff’s Office at (904) 209-3986. You can remain anonymous and possibly be eligible with a cash reward by calling Crime Stoppers of Northeast Florida at 1-(888) 277-TIPS (8477).