Mom flees police in west Wichita with daughter, 2, in back seat

A 27-year-old woman was arrested late Wednesday night after she reportedly stole items from a west Wichita Wal-Mart, then tried to flee police before crashing into a curb in a cul-de-sac with her 2-year-old daughter in the back seat, police said.

An officer pulled over a car for driving erratically and not using headlights at about 11:20 p.m. Wednesday on Taft, Wichita police Lt. Randy Reynolds said. The officer learned the vehicle matched the description of the vehicle used by someone who had just committed shoplifting at the Wal-Mart in the 6100 block of West Kellogg Drive.

When the officer approached the car and asked the woman to step out, she drove away. A short chase – perhaps three blocks, Reynolds said – ensued before the woman turned into a cul-de-sac and crashed. The officer found the toddler unrestrained in the back seat, along with drug paraphernalia and evidence linked to the shoplifting incident.

The child was placed into protective custody by police.

This story was originally published January 28, 2016 at 12:20 PM with the headline "Mom flees police in west Wichita with daughter, 2, in back seat."