By Kirsten Buys and David Wallace
C & G Staff Writers

WEST BLOOMFIELD — Two Detroit women were arrested July 19 after stealing money from a West Bloomfield business, dragging a police officer with their vehicle and leading officers on a chase through several communities.

The women, ages 38 and 41, entered the baby clothing store Guys ‘N Gals in the Orchard Mall Shopping Center, 6445 Orchard Lake Road, just before 5 p.m. July 19, West Bloomfield Police Lt. Tim Diamond said. One of the women distracted workers while the other took money from the cash register.

Both women then fled the store, and an off-duty West Bloomfield police officer saw the women running and heard employees screaming for someone to call the police, Diamond said. The officer chased the women and tried to stop them after they got in their car. The officer was then unable to get his arm out of the car and was dragged about 80 feet through the parking lot.

The car hit an occupied vehicle in the parking lot, and the officer was able to free himself and arrest the driver. At that point, the other woman slid over to the driver’s seat and took off, Diamond said.

Police issued a “be-on-the-lookout” to other agencies, Diamond said, and an Oakland County Sheriff’s Office helicopter was up at the time and monitored the pursuit, which led police through several jurisdictions, including Farmington Hills. The chase ended in the Downriver town of Ecorse, when local and state police stopped the vehicle near Outer Drive and Dix Toledo Road, Diamond said.

Police also found two juveniles, ages 12 and 16, in the car. They are reportedly the children of one of the women, but police couldn’t confirm which.

Diamond said the original passenger who led police on the chase is charged with three counts of larceny in a building, fleeing and eluding, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. The original driver is charged with felonious assault with a motor vehicle and driving while license suspended.

The officer who was dragged by the car received only minor injuries.