What started out as a shoplifting incident at a Fountain Hills convenience market late Saturday, May 11, escalated into a dangerous pursuit through Fountain Hills neighborhoods before ending with a collision on Saguaro Boulevard at Leo Drive.

A deputy responding to the shoplifting report was told by the store manager at Circle K, Shea and Saguaro, that three women suspects took cell phone accessories and sunglasses from the store and their vehicle was still in the parking lot.

As the deputy approached the suspects’ vehicle the driver, a male, backed out and around to exit the parking lot. The deputy placed his hand on the vehicle and ordered the driver to stop. The driver came toward the deputy, and the deputy drew his weapon, but did not fire.

The vehicle then fled north on Saguaro Boulevard at a high rate of speed with the deputy in pursuit. The pursuit was terminated near Avenue of the Fountains and Saguaro due to the danger.

The deputy located the vehicle a short time later on Kings Way near Saguaro and Fountain Hills boulevards. At this point the pursuit started again heading south through a residential neighborhood and back to Saguaro.

A deputy placed stop sticks on Saguaro near Quinto Drive and the suspect vehicle struck the sticks, but continued south at a high rate of speed, going through the Shea Boulevard intersection before crashing into a tree near Saguaro and Leo.

One suspect remained in the vehicle and was taken into custody by deputies. Two others were apprehended by a deputy following a foot pursuit through residential yards.

The Sheriff’s Office helicopter was called and was in the area as the foot pursuit began. The Fort McDowell Police Department responded with K-9 support, however, the fourth suspect was not immediately located.

The driver, a 20-year-old male from Sacaton, was placed under arrest and faces charges for aggravated assault on a police officer, unlawful flight from law enforcement, endangerment, DUI, underage DUI, consumption of alcohol in a vehicle and possession of an open container in a vehicle. He was booked into Maricopa County Jail in Phoenix.

When asked why he did not obey the deputy’s original order to stop in the Circle K parking lot, the driver said he did not want to go back to jail.

One of the female suspects told fire department medics who were called that she was high on heroin and had been drinking.

She was transported to the hospital for further evaluation.

The female suspects were from Coolidge and Laveen.