Police Chase, Taser Suspected Alcohol Shoplifter

What should have been a shoplifting arrest at the store turned into a police chase, a car crash and the driver of the car getting tasered in order to take him into custody.

James Mack, 44, of Caledonia, was charged Thursday in Racine County Circuit Court with one felony count of fleeing/eluding a police officer and one misdemeanor count each of operating a motor vehicle while revoked, OWI related; obstruction; and retail theft. If convicted, he faces up to six years in jail and/or up to $32,500 in fines.

According to the criminal complaint, Caledonia police were called at 4:47 p.m. Wednesday to Pick 'n' Save, 5111 Douglas Ave., for calls of a shoplifter. Before the officer arrived, though, dispatch informed them the suspect was on the move in a yellow car, and a store manager was following.

Police caught up to the suspect driver - later identified as Mack - at 6-Mile Road and Douglas Ave. and initiated a traffic stop. Mack pulled over, but as the officer was approaching him, Mack put the car in gear and took off, the complaint reads.

The officer engaged in a pursuit that led east on 6-Mile Road and ended after the defendant turned north on Elderberry, veered off the road and crashed into a fence and a copse of pine trees. Police say Mack tried to put the car in reverse, but when that didn't work, he exited the vehicle and ran from the officer.

After several commands to stop and get on the ground, Mack instead turned around and approached the officer. Officers say when he still didn't obey orders to stop and get on the ground, police used a taser to subdue the defendant, causing him to fall backward and land on his back.

Once the taser cycled through, however, Mack tried to remove the probes. So, officers deployed another charge, which flipped Mack over onto his stomach, the complaint reads.

Police took Mack into custody and report that Mack admitted to taking items from Pick 'n' Save but that he didn't remember what he took. Video surveillance footage from the store shows the defendant stealing quantities of alcohol.

Mack remains in the Racine County Jail. Court records do not indicate when he will next be in court for his preliminary hearing.