Suspect leads police officers on chase through city streets

A Hillsboro man was arrested Friday after leading police officers on a chase through city streets after allegedly stealing $160 in items from Walmart.

According to a news release from the Hillsboro Police Department, at approximately 4:23 p.m. Friday loss prevention employees at Walmart, on Harry Sauner Road in Hillsboro, reported that an alleged shoplifter was observed concealing merchandise on his person. Loss prevention employees said that as the suspect left the store, employees attempted to detain him, but he was able to leave the premises in a green vehicle.

"At this time, an officer arrived at the business, observed the suspect vehicle and attempted to get the suspect vehicle to stop," according to the HPD. "The vehicle accelerated and the officer gave chase by pursuing the vehicle. The suspect vehicle traveled southbound on North West Street and around town refusing the stop. The (pursuit) continued until the suspect lost control of his vehicle and went onto the sidewalk and struck a fence in the front of a residence in the 200 block of John Street.”

According to the HPD, the suspect then allegedly attempted to strike the police cruiser.

"The suspect vehicle traveled into reverse, in what appeared to be an attempt to strike a police vehicle if it did not move from the suspect vehicle's path. The suspect vehicle pulled forward and traveled back up on the sidewalk and around the parked cars along the street," according to the HPD.

Once the chase left the Hillsboro city limits, a deputy with the Highland County Sheriff's Office joined the pursuit. The vehicle was later stopped on Mad River Road and the suspect was taken into custody without incident.

According to the HPD, Kernie Gipson, 31, of Hillsboro, was arrested. He is being charged with no operator's license, a misdemeanor of the first degree; theft, a misdemeanor of the first degree; and failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer, a felony of the third degree.

The items allegedly taken from Walmart, which according to the HPD were carving knives worth approximately $160, were recovered.